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Melanosis coli

 
Melanosis Coli

 
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Melanosis coli
 
 
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Melanosis coli is a disorder of pigmentation of the wall of the colon
Colon (anatomy)

The colon is the last portion of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from feces before they are defecation from the body....
, identified at the time of colonoscopy
Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is the endoscopy examination of the large Colon and the distal part of the ileum with a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus....
.






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Melanosis Coli
Melanosis Path
Melanosis coli is a disorder of pigmentation of the wall of the colon
Colon (anatomy)

The colon is the last portion of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from feces before they are defecation from the body....
, identified at the time of colonoscopy
Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is the endoscopy examination of the large Colon and the distal part of the ileum with a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus....
. It is benign, and has no significant correlation with disease. The name is considered a misnomer: the brown pigment seen in the colon is actually lipofuscin
Lipofuscin

Lipofuscin is the name given to finely granular yellow brown pigment Granule composed of lipid-containing residues of lysosomal digestion. It is considered one of the aging or "wear and tear" pigments; found in the liver, kidney, heart muscle, adrenals, nerve cells, and ganglion cells....
, not melanin as the name implies.

The most common cause of melanosis coli is the use of laxative
Laxative

Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the Colon for rectum and bowel examinations, and may be supplemented by enemas in that circumstance....
s, and commonly anthraquinone
Anthraquinone

Anthraquinone is an aromatic hydrocarbon organic compound. It is a derivative of anthracene. It has the appearance of yellow or light gray to gray-green solid crystalline powder....
 containing laxatives such as Senna and other plant glycosides. Endoscopically
Endoscopy

Endoscopy means looking inside and typically refers to looking inside the body for medical reasons using an instrument called an endoscope....
, the mucosa
Mucous membrane

The mucous membranes are linings of mostly germ layer origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organ ....
 shows a brownish discoloration in a moire pattern
Moiré pattern

In physics, a moir? pattern is an interference pattern created, for example, when two grids are overlaid at an angle, or when they have slightly different mesh sizes....
. On biopsy
Biopsy

A biopsy is a medical test involving the removal of Cell_s or Biological tissues for examination. It is the removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease....
, melanosis coli shows characteristic pigment-laden macrophage
Macrophage

Macrophages are white blood cells within tissues, produced by the division of monocytes. Human macrophages are about 21 micrometres in diameter....
s within the submucosa on PAS
Periodic acid-Schiff

Periodic acid-Schiff is a staining method used in histology and pathology. This method is primarily used to identify glycogen in tissues. The reaction of periodic acid selectively oxidizes the glucose residues, creates aldehydes that react with the Schiff reagent and creates a purple-magenta color....
 staining.

No adverse effects or consequences of melanosis coli have been identified. The condition is unrelated to Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, which can cause pigmentation of the skin and mucous surfaces with melanin
Melanin

Melanin is a class of compounds found in the plant, animal, and protista kingdom , where it serves predominantly as a pigment. The class of pigments are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine....
, and polyps in the digestive tract.

Melanoses of other parts of the gastrointestinal tract have also been reported, and are of unclear relevance. Patients with colostomies
Colostomy

A colostomy is a surgical procedure that involves connecting a part of the Colon onto the anterior abdominal wall, leaving the patient with an opening on the abdomen called a Stoma ....
 can have melanosis involving the stoma
Stoma (medicine)

In medicine, a stoma is an opening , either natural or surgery created , which connects a portion of the body cavity to the outside environment....
, which is also of no significance.

See also

  • Melanin
    Melanin

    Melanin is a class of compounds found in the plant, animal, and protista kingdom , where it serves predominantly as a pigment. The class of pigments are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine....
  • Lipofuscin
    Lipofuscin

    Lipofuscin is the name given to finely granular yellow brown pigment Granule composed of lipid-containing residues of lysosomal digestion. It is considered one of the aging or "wear and tear" pigments; found in the liver, kidney, heart muscle, adrenals, nerve cells, and ganglion cells....


External links

  • , via the DAVE Project