Melanosis Coli Center - West Covina, CA
West Covina 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 West Covina * Mumtaz Akram MD  Suresht Paul Sharma MD  Suresht Paul Sharma MD  Suresht Paul Sharma MD  Mark Li MD  Rangarao Panguluri MD  Magan Medical Clinic  Shahnawaz Jaffer MD  City of Hope National Medical Center Gastroenterology  City of Hope National Medical Center Gastroenterology  Ching-Hsiu Chen MD  Ching-Hsiu Chen MD  George Ferenczi MD  Kenny Su MD  Shang Cheng Wu MD  Valley Gastroenterology Consultants  Valley Gastroenterology Consultants  Hanson T Lee Inc  Jay Noble MD  Chester D Zahn MD  Tu Tran MD  Manmohan Kumar MD  Abdul Alaama MD  Neal M Shindel MD  Internal Medicine Specialists Medical Groups  Internal Medicine Specialists Medical Groups  Richard L Parks MD & Barton Ueki MD  Edward Laurance MD  Robert A Mecum MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Robert J Mehler MD  Lisandro Quinones MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  The Internal Medical Group  St Jude Heritage Medical Group Bastanchury  St Jude Heritage Medical Sunnycrest  St Jude Heritage Medical Sunnycrest  St Jude Heritage Medical Sunnycrest  St Jude Heritage Medical Sunnycrest  Dennis Chan MD  Kwok-Leung Chung MD  Firmin Ho MD  Chun Yen Hsu MD  Chia-Chi G Lai MD  Thomas S Lam MD  Shih Lin Lue MD  Barry Morguelan MD  Jason H Shin MD  Krishan K Malhotra MD  Conrad A Cox MD  The Internal Medical Group  The Internal Medical Group  St Jude Heritage Medical Group Yorba Linda  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants Medical Group  Alliance Digestive Disease Consultants  Ravindra Alapati MD  Ashok Amin MD  Ambika Bali MD  Syam P Gaddam MD  Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group  Digestive Disease Center  Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group  Associated Gastroenterology Medical Group  Gastroenterology Consultants  Gastro Digestive Medical Group  Frischer Medical Group  Steven J Weiss MD  Behrooz Ahmadi MD  Norman Kuo MD  Kenneth Yamashiro MD  Richard Yip MD  Umesh Shah MD  USC Internal Medicine  Kevin Jenkins DO  White Memorial Medical Group  Ethelred Carter MD  UCI Medical Group Gastroenterology  UCI Medical Group Gastroenterology  UCI Medical Group Gastroenterology  UCI Medical Group Gastroenterology  UCI Medical Group Gastroenterology  UCI Medical Group Gastroenterology  UCI Irvine Medical Center Gastroenterology  UCI Medical Group Gastroenterology  UCI Irvine Medical Center Gastroenterology  Hertz & Associates in Gastroenterology A Medical Group Inc  Roque Hung & Yu Digestive Diseases West Covina, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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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 West Covina
Nearby West Covina Hospitals *Doctor's Hospital West Covina Citrus Valley Medical Center Queen of the Valley Campus Kindred Hospital San Gabriel Valley Vista Specialty Hospital of San Gabriel Valley Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Baldwin Park Citrus Valley Medical Center Inter Community Campus Aurora Charter Oak Hospital City of Hope National Medical Center East Valley Hospital Medical Center Foothill Presbyterian Hospital Greater El Monte Community Hospital San Dimas Community Hospital Methodist Hospital BHC Alhambra Hospital Whittier Hospital Medical Center Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital City of Angels Medical Center Ingleside Campus San Gabriel Valley Medical Center Aurora Las Encinas Hospital Kindred Hospital Brea Beverly Hospital Garfield Medical Center Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation Kindred Hospital La Mirada Monterey Park Hospital Alhambra Hospital Medical Center St Jude Medical Center Metropolitan State Hospital Huntington Hospital Norwalk Community Hospital Montclair Hospital Medical Center Placentia-Linda Hospital Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital Downey Regional Medical Center Los Angeles Community Hospital Chino Valley Medical Center USC University Hospital USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center LAC + USC Medical Center Women's & Children's Hospital Anaheim Regional Medical Center Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles College Hospital Cerritos Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center White Memorial Medical Center La Palma Intercommunity Hospital Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center Kindred Hospital Ontario Pacific Alliance Medical Center Community Hospital of Huntington Park Kaiser Mental Health Center San Antonio Community Hospital West Anaheim Medical Center Bellflower Medical Center Glendale Adventist Medical Center Western Medical Center Anaheim Barlow Respiratory Hospital Anaheim General Hospital St Francis Medical Center Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Suburban Medical Center Campus Verdugo Hills Hospital Tri-City Regional Medical Center Glendale Memorial Hospital & Health Center Good Samaritan Hospital California Hospital Medical Center Lakewood Regional Medical Center St Vincent Medical Center Orthopaedic Medical Center Temple Community Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Los Angeles University Of California Irvine 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. |
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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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