Melanosis Coli Center - Watsonville, CA
Watsonville 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 Watsonville * Frederick Chen MD  Albert J Crevello MD  Bayview Gastroenterology  Kevin Stuart MD  Kevin Stuart MD  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel  Santa Cruz Medical Foundation Soquel  Gordon E Lee MD  Monterey Bay Gastroenterology  Monterey Bay Gastroenterology  Monterey Bay Gastroenterology  Rita Y Lee MD  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Los Palos Medical Associates Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey Bay GI Consultants Medical Group Inc  Monterey County Surgical Associates  Kennedy Christian & Rice MDs  David E Stein MD FACG  Michael C Kushlan MD  San Jose Medical Group  San Jose Medical Group  Marwan A Balaa MD  Ayer & Davilla MDs  Terry C Lin DO  Barbara Hom MD  David W Chui MD  San Jose Gastroenterology  Felix K Tam MD  San Jose Gastroenterology  Farr & Farr MD  Alfred L Hurwitz MD  Jagjit S Raju MD  Sally Nacianceno & Rose Palma MDs  Sudin Vittal MD  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  Rasik Kansara MD  San Jose Gastroenterology  San Jose Gastroenterology  Robert F Bronstone MD  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Andrew Lipton MD  El Camino GI Medical  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  El Camino GI Medical  Camino Medical Group Gastroenterology  Peninsula Gastroenterology Medical Group  Palo Alto Veterans Hospital GI Endoscopy  Palo Alto Veterans Hospital GI Endoscopy  Medical Specialties Clinic  Palo Alto Medical Clinic Medical Specialties  Palo Alto Medical Clinic Medical Specialties  Palo Alto Medical Clinic Medical Specialties  David S Shields MD  Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Gastroenterology Department  Susie M Liu MD  Harvey S Young MD  Mission Primary Care  Shakir Hyder MD  Washington Township Medical Group  Kenneth A Kelsen MD  Fremont Medical Group  Menlo Medical Clinic  Menlo Medical Clinic  Betty M Ho MD  Tri Valley Gastroenterology  Tri Valley Gastroenterology  Scott D Levenson MD  Scott D Levenson MD  Camacho & Musni MDs  Phillip A Wolfe & Eric Rowen MDs  Phillip A Wolfe & Eric Rowen MDs  Gastroenterology Specialists Medical Group  Gastroenterology Specialists Medical Group  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Hayward  San Mateo County General Hospital  Gastroenterology Specialists Medical Group  Edward K Onuma & Eugene Y Lee MDs Watsonville, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
2012-06-17
2012-06-23
2012-06-24
2012-07-04
2012-07-07
2012-08-04
2012-09-16
2012-10-06
2012-11-18
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 Watsonville
Nearby Watsonville Hospitals *Watsonville Community Hospital Saint Louise Regional Hospital Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Dominican Hospital Natividad Medical Center Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Good Samaritan Hospital Mission Oaks Good Samaritan Hospital San Jose El Camino Hospital of Los Gatos Santa Clara Valley Medical Center O'Connor Hospital Regional Medical Center of San Jose Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center 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. |
Suggested Reading on Melanosis Coli by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
6 articles-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Colon Cancer
-
Medications
2 articles -
Procedures & Tests
3 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
0 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
3 articles -
Health News
0 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
