Melanosis coli is the brownish discoloration of the colon associated with prolonged administration of anthraquinone type laxatives. The pigmentation of the colonic mucosa is due to the accumulation of lipofuscin pigment in macrophages located in the l...
Melanosis coli is the brownish discoloration of the colon associated with prolonged administration of anthraquinone type laxatives. The pigmentation of the colonic mucosa is due to the accumulation of lipofuscin pigment in macrophages located in the lamina propria. The diagnosis is made by endoscopy and is virtually specific for anthraquinone abuse. This is the one of the complications of laxative abuse, but the pigments disappear by withdrawing the lax- atives. We present a case of melanosis coli in a 39 year old female with histologica! Confirm by sigmoidoscopic biopsy consuming anthraquinone type laxative for 2 years. (Korean J Gas- troenterol 1994; 26: 746 750)