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Melanosis coli

Tuesday 30 December 2008, Ľudovít Lukáč, M.D, Ph.D and Branislav Kunčak, M. D.

Melanosis coli is brown, brown-black discoloration of the bowel mucosa. In macrophages of the mucosa accumalates lipofuscin (what can be interpreted as a reflection of cellular degeneration). It is due to long-term use of anthraquinone laxatives. Melanosis coli is benign and reversibile condition and has no clinical consequences. Melanosis coli is very often detected by colonoscopy in patients with constipation. Biopsy can show pigment-laden macrophages within the mucosa.

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Keywords: melanosis coli, lipofuscin, discoloration of bowel mucosa, pigmentation of the mucosa, laxatives, constipation