Melanosis Coli Center - Wheaton, IL
Wheaton 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 Wheaton * Gastroenterology Group  Gastroenterology Group  Gastroenterology Group  Gastrointestinal Health Specialists LLC  Gloria J Caruso MD PC  Joseph Lagattuta MD  Mohamad Z Sait MD Ltd  Digestive Health Services SC  Digestive Health Services SC  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  Naperville Gastroenterology  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  MidWest Digestive Disease Specialists  Digestive Health Services SC  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  DuPage Medical Group Gastroenterology  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  Suburban Gastroenterology Ltd  Dyer GI Clinics of Illinois  Midwest GI Associates  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Drs Kane, Misawa & Spiess LLC  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  K Krishnankutty MD  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Drs Kane, Misawa & Spiess LLC  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Drs Kane, Misawa & Spiess LLC  Northwest Gastroenterologists  Gerard A Sublette MD & Christopher Boutin MD  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Gerard A Sublette MD & Christopher Boutin MD  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Elmhurst Clinic Gastroenterology  Mark E Dubin MD  Northwest Healthcare  Northwest Healthcare  Northwest Healthcare  George Zahrebelski MD  Gastroenterology Services Ltd  Gastroenterology Services Ltd  Gastroenterology Services Ltd  Gastroenterology Group  Gastroenterology Group  Digestive Disease Associates  Digestive Disease Associates  Southwest Digestive Disease Consultants  Southwest Digestive Disease Consultants  Drs Kane, Misawa & Spiess LLC  Gastrointestinal Health Specialists LLC  Gastroenterology Group  Therapeutic Endoscopy Associates PC  Gastrointestinal Health Associates  Advocate Medical Group Arlington Heights  Mohammed Mahkri MD  Therapeutic Endoscopy Associates PC  Gastrointestinal Health Associates  Gastrointestinal Health Associates  Gastrointestinal Health Associates  Gastroenterology Group  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Dreyer Medical Clinic Mercy Campus  Sinha Chunduri MD  Manuel C Iglesias MD  Fahey Medical Center  Loyola University Medical Center  Loyola University Medical Center  Loyola University Medical Center  Loyola University Medical Center  Loyola University Medical Center  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Elgin Gastroenterology  Riverside Medical  North Suburban Gastroenterology Assoc  North Suburban Gastroenterology Assoc  North Suburban Gastroenterology Assoc  North Suburban Gastroenterology Assoc  North Suburban Gastroenterology Assoc  BHS Digestive Disease  BHS Digestive Disease Wheaton, IllinoisUpcoming 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 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 Wheaton
Nearby Wheaton Hospitals *Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital Central DuPage Hospital Adventist GlenOaks Hospital Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital Edward Hospital Linden Oaks Hospital at Edward Elmhurst Memorial Hospital RML Specialty Hospital Streamwood Behavioral Health Center Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital Alexian Brothers Medical Center Adventist Hinsdale Hospital Kindred Hospital Northlake Delnor-Community Hospital Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital Provena Mercy Medical Center Rush-Copley Medical Center Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital St Alexius Medical Center Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital Resurrection Health Care Westlake Hospital Gottlieb Memorial Hospital Loyola University Medical Center Elgin Mental Health Center Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital John J Madden Mental Health Center Riveredge Hospital Northwest Community Hospital Sherman Hospital RUSH Oak Park Hospital Provena Saint Joseph Hospital MacNeal Hospital Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago Chicago-Read Mental Health Center Resurrection Health Care West Suburban Medical Center Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital Resurrection Health Care Resurrection Medical Center Hartgrove Hospital Resurrection Health Care Holy Family Medical Center Loretto Hospital Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Resurrection Health Care Our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center Advocate Christ Medical Center & Hope Children's Hospital Kindred Hospital Chicago Central Palos Community Hospital Advocate Bethany Hospital Glenbrook Hospital Sacred Heart Hospital Saint Anthony Hospital Norwegian-American Hospital Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital Resurrection Health Care Saint Elizabeth Hospital Resurrection Health Care Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center Jesse Brown VA Medical Center John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County Kindred Hospital Chicago North Swedish Covenant Hospital Holy Cross Hospital Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center University of Illinois Medical Center Johnston R Bowman Health Center Rush University Medical Center Silver Cross Hospital RUSH North Shore Medical Center CINN Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center Methodist Hospital of Chicago Little Company of Mary Hospital & Health Care Centers Children's Memorial Hospital Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Lincoln Park Hospital Resurrection Health Care Saint Francis Hospital Thorek Memorial Hospital Chicago Lakeshore Hospital Weiss Memorial Hospital 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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