Melanosis Coli Center - Vista, CA
Vista 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 Vista * North County Gastroenterology  North County Gastroenterology  North County Gastroenterology  North County Gastroenterology  North County Gastroenterology  North County Gastroenterology  Coastal Gastroenterology  Piyush P Kumar MD  Coastal Gastroenterology  Ronald Feldman MD  Scripps Clinic Encinitas  Mark L Kadden MD  Temecula Valley Digestive Disease Consultants AMC  Temecula Valley Digestive Disease Consultants AMC  Pritam Singh MD  Scripps Clinic Carmel Specialites  Scripps Clinic Carmel Specialites  Scripps Clinic Carmel Specialites  Scripps Clinic Carmel Specialites  San Diego Digestive Consultants Inc  Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Gastroenterology  Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Gastroenterology  Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Gastroenterology  Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Gastroenterology  Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Gastroenterology  Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Gastroenterology  Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Gastroenterology  David Bortz MD  La Jolla Gastroenterology  Frank Mayer MD  La Jolla Gastroenterology  La Jolla Gastroenterology  Donald J Ritt MD  La Jolla Gastroenterology  Inland Empire Gastro Medical Group  Inland Empire Gastro Medical Group  Inland Empire Gastro Medical Group  Ritchken & First MDs  Bruce Sahba MD Inc  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Gastroenterology & Surgery  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Gastroenterology & Surgery  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Gastroenterology & Surgery  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Gastroenterology & Surgery  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Gastroenterology & Surgery  Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group Gastroenterology & Surgery  San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants Inc  San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants Inc  San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants Inc  San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants Inc  San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants Inc  San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants Inc  San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants Inc  Kaiser Medical Center  Kaiser Medical Center  Kaiser Medical Center  Kaiser Medical Center  Kaiser Medical Center  Kaiser Medical Center  University of California San Diego Medical Center Gastroenterology  University of California San Diego Medical Center Gastroenterology  Tarek Hassanein MD  Epsten Haynes DelaPena & DuBois MDs  Epsten Haynes DelaPena & DuBois MDs  Epsten Haynes DelaPena & DuBois MDs  Internal Medicine Associates  Epsten Haynes DelaPena & DuBois MDs  Center for Family Health  John Ponsiglione MD  Vijayalakshmi S Pratha MD  Tuan T Nguyen MD  Banaie Medical Corporation  Banaie Medical Corporation  Ali Diba MD  Sam J Elsheikh MD  Nav Gujral MD  Rokay G Kamyar MD & Mohammad R Soleimanpour MD  Rokay G Kamyar MD & Mohammad R Soleimanpour MD  Karen Gordon MD  Desta Digestive Disease Medical Center  Gastroenterology Associates  Iman I Mikhail MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Mission Internal Medical Group  Mission Internal Medical Group  Mission Internal Medical Group  Mission Internal Medical Group  J Frank Arguello MD  Mission Internal Medical Group  Gastrointestinal Healthcare of Orange County  Orange County Gastroenterology  Orange County Gastroenterology  Ali A Oliai MD  Poneh Rahimi MD  Pacific Gastroenterology  Shahram Javaheri MD  South Orange County Gastroenterology  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  Saddleback Medical Group  John J Duque MD Vista, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 ColiWhat is flexible sigmoidoscopy?Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the rectum and the lower (sigmoid) colon. The flexible sigmoidoscope is a flexible tube 60 cm long and about the thickness of your little finger. It is inserted gently into the anus and advanced slowly into the rectum and the lower colon. It is an accurate and simple method of investigating the cause of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, and rectal symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Flexible sigmoidoscopy also is a part of colon screening and surveillance for colon cancer. What is the preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy?In order to obtain accurate results, the rectum and the lower colon must be completely clean of stool. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions on how to cleanse your colon. In general, this requires the use of one or two enemas prior to the procedure and may also call for a laxative and some dietar... Other Related Melanosis Coli ArticlesEmergency Contact for Vista
Nearby Vista Hospitals *Tri-City Medical Center Palomar Medical Center Encinitas Nursing & Rehabilitation Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Fallbrook Hospital Aurora Behavioral Healthcare Pomerado Hospital Scripps Green Hospital Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla UCSD Thornton Hospital VA San Diego Health Care System La Jolla Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Rancho Springs Medical Center Inland Valley Medical Center Sharp Memorial Hospital Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women Rady Children's Hospital San Diego Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital Alvarado Hospital San Diego Hospice San Diego Rehabilitation Institute UCSD Medical Center Hillcrest Kindred Hospital San Diego Scripps Mercy Hospital Vibra Hospital of San Diego Sharp Grossmont Hospital Promise Hospital of San Diego Naval Medical Center San Diego Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Colon Cancer
- Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
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Constipation
- Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Colon Polyps
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Laxatives for Constipation
- Laxatives for treatment of constipation include over-the-counter preparations such as bulk-forming laxatives, stool softeners, lubricant laxatives, stimulant laxatives, saline laxatives, enemas and suppositories. Some over-the-counter laxatives are not recommended for patients with specific diseases or conditions. Some laxatives may have negative adverse effects if taken over long periods of time.
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Colon Cancer Prevention
- Colo-rectal cancer is both curable and preventable if it is detected early and completely removed before the cancerous cells metastasize to other parts of the body. Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy (along with digital rectal examination and stool occult blood testing) are both effective at preventing colo-rectal cancers and detecting early colo-rectal cancers.
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Colon Cancer
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