Melanosis Coli Center - Walnut Creek, CA
Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek * S Saeed Zamani MD  Henry Kung MD  Gerald Tarder MD  S Saeed Zamani MD  Tri Valley Gastroenterology  Tri Valley Gastroenterology  Bay Area Colon & Rectal Surgeons  Eugene J Burbige MD  Gastroenterology Medical Group  David N Varon MD  David H Lin MD  Steven A Friedman MD  Anderson Rowe MD  Valley Digestive Care Medical Associates  Family Doctor Medical Group  Alameda County Medical Center  Alameda County Medical Center Highland Hospital Campus  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastroenterology Associates of the East Bay  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Miles F Adler MD  Vinod Sawhney MD  Gastroenterology Specialists Medical Group  Gastroenterology Specialists Medical Group  Gastroenterology Specialists Medical Group  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Northern California Gastroenterology Consultants  Mission Primary Care  Ramakrishna Gollapudi MD  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Camacho & Musni MDs  Phillip A Wolfe & Eric Rowen MDs  Phillip A Wolfe & Eric Rowen MDs  Varujan Keledjian MD  Center for Digestive Disorders  Varujan Keledjian MD  Center for Digestive Disorders  Varujan Keledjian MD  Center for Digestive Disorders  Varujan Keledjian MD  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Kaiser Permanente Gastroenterology  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  Vallejo Medical Center  NorthBay Healthcare  Laurence J Mazzotta MD  Kenneth A Kelsen MD  Fremont Medical Group  Inter Community Medical Group  Washington Township Medical Group  Shakir Hyder MD  Patrick Y Wong MD  North East Medical Service  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  San Francisco Digestive Disease Inc  Dennis L Hamby MD  Frank S Yang MD  SFGH Medicine & Gastroenterology Clinic  Malin Aubry Gores Wang Haddad & Sankaran  Pacific Heights Medical Group  Pacific Internal Medicine Associates  Interventional Endoscopy Services Walnut Creek, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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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 Walnut Creek
Nearby Walnut Creek Hospitals *Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek Campus John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus John Muir Behavioral Health Center VA Northern CA Healthcare System at Martinez Contra Costa Regional Medical Center San Ramon Regional Medical Center Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Herrick Campus Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Oakland Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area John George Psychiatric Pavilion San Leandro Hospital Alameda County Medical Center Fairmont Campus Alameda Hospital Eden Medical Center Sutter Delta Medical Center Doctor's Medical Center San Pablo ValleyCare Health System Pleasanton St Helena Hospital Center for Behavioral Health St Rose Hospital Sutter Solano Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Hayward Medical Center Chinese Hospital Saint Francis Memorial Hospital San Francisco General Hospital California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus Valley Memorial Hospital UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center St Luke's Hospital California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus California Pacific Medical Center California Campus California Pacific Medical Center East Campus St Mary's Medical Center Telecare Solano Psychiatric Health Facility UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Washington Hospital Fremont Hospital NorthBay Medical Center Livermore Division of the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System San Francisco VA Medical Center Marin General Hospital Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center Seton Medical Center Mills Hospital Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center Mills-Peninsula Health Services Napa State Hospital San Mateo Medical Center Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center Novato Community Hospital Menlo Park Surgical Hospital Sequoia Hospital Queen of the Valley Medical Center VacaValley Hospital Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford Hospital & Clinics Sonoma Valley Hospital VA Palo Alto Health Care System 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
- A colon polyp is a benign tumor of the large intestine. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can easily be removed during colonoscopy and are not life threatening. If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant over time.
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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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