Melanosis Coli Center - Turlock, CA
Turlock Gastroenterologist Doctors for Melanosis ColiType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Turlock * Mark Jeffrey MD  Juan Carlos Canale MD  Safwat M Absood MD  Sutter Gould Medical Foundation Gastroenterology  Sutter Gould Medical Foundation Gastroenterology  Sutter Gould Medical Foundation Gastroenterology  Magdy Elsakr MD  McHenry Medical Group Inc Gastroenterology  McHenry Medical Group Inc Gastroenterology  McHenry Medical Group Inc Gastroenterology  Richard A Cercle MD Inc  Shahin Laghaee MD  Bobby D Peterson MD  Mak Man-Siak MD  Madhu K Kris MD  Merced Medical Clinic  Douglas Deutsch MD  Merced Gastroenterology Medical Office Inc  Ripudaman S Beniwal MD  Ismail M Wadiwala MD  San Joaquin Community Hospital  San Joaquin Community Hospital  Mahesh G Modi MD  Robert Protell MD  George E Rishwain MD  Lakshmare Tiyyagura MD  Sohan S Mahil MD  Iftikhar A Malik MD  Kaiser Stockton Medical Specialties  Kaiser Stockton Medical Specialties  David R Aarons MD  Mazen Mardini MD  Kevin Stuart MD  Kevin Stuart MD  Mohammed N Siddiqui MD  Tri Valley Gastroenterology  Tri Valley Gastroenterology  California Digestive Diseases  Sally Nacianceno & Rose Palma MDs  Sudin Vittal MD  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  Rasik Kansara MD  Felix K Tam MD  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Varujan Keledjian MD  Varujan Keledjian MD  Varujan Keledjian MD  Varujan Keledjian MD  Camacho & Musni MDs  Phillip A Wolfe & Eric Rowen MDs  Phillip A Wolfe & Eric Rowen MDs  Ramakrishna Gollapudi MD  Frederick Chen MD  Albert J Crevello MD  Bayview Gastroenterology  David W Chui MD  Farr & Farr MD  Alfred L Hurwitz MD  Jagjit S Raju MD  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Consultants  David E Stein MD FACG  San Jose Medical Group  San Jose Medical Group  Marwan A Balaa MD  Kenneth A Kelsen MD  Michael C Kushlan MD  Terry C Lin DO  Fremont Medical Group  Ayer & Davilla MDs  Mission Primary Care  Shakir Hyder MD  Washington Township Medical Group  Barbara Hom MD  Steven A Friedman MD  Anderson Rowe MD  Sacramento VA Hospital  Sacramento VA Hospital  Valley Digestive Care Medical Associates  Rita Y Lee MD  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Marshall Center for LBB_Specialty Care  David H Lin MD  Roberto Gugig MD  Daniel R Cummings MD  Gastroenterology Medical Clinic  Gastroenterology Medical Clinic Turlock, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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Melanosis ColiRead the Melanosis Coli article » What is melanosis coli?Melanosis coli is a condition usually associated with chronic laxative use in which dark pigment is deposited in the lamina propria (one of the lining layers) of the large intestine (colon). The pigment deposition results in a characteristic dark brown to black discoloration of the lining of the large intestine. This condition is sometimes called pseudomelanosis coli because the pigment deposits consist of a pigment known as lipofuscin and do not contain melanin as implied by the term "melanosis." Lipofuscin is a cellular pigment that forms when cells are destroyed, often called "wear and tear" pigment that can be found throughout the body. The dark color of the intestinal lining may be uniform or patterned, and the discoloration may be slight or very pronounced. The intensity and pattern of the discoloration may even vary among different sites in the colon of a patient. The condition may also be reversed upon discontinuation of laxative use. In some cases, the wall of the colon appears normal to the eye, but microscopic evaluation of biopsies by a pathologist reveals areas of pigment in the colon's lining. The pigment in melanosis coli does not accumulate in polyps or tumors of the large intestine.
What are the symptoms of melanosis coli?Melanosis coli does not cause symptoms. What causes melanosis coli?Melanosis coli usually results from chronic use of laxatives of the anthranoid group. Some examples of anthranoid laxatives are senna and rhubarb derivatives. Many of these laxatives have been in use for hundreds of years. In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of the popular anthranoid laxative phenolphthalein due to fears that it might be carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Animal studies had shown that extremely high doses of phenolphthalein led to tumors in animals, but it has nev... Recommended Reading Related to Melanosis ColiConstipation facts
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