3 Cases of Melanosis Coli

Lee, Soong; Baek, Jong Cheir; Myung, Jae Il; Kim, Wan; Kim, Yun Mee

Abstract

Colonic lesions by irritant laxative abuse are devided into melanosis coli, cathartic colon, soap or chemical colitis. Melanosis coli is the brownish or black discoloration of the colon because of the accumulation of lipofuscin pigment in macrophages located in lamina propria and associated with anthraquinone containing laxative abuse. The site of this lesion is more common in cecum and proximal colon, but whole colon can be involved. This lesion is occurred between 4 months and 13 months from initiation of drug medication, and the lesion is benign because the pigments disappear by withdrawning the laxatives. A number of cases were reported in our country, all of the cases were associated with prolonged administration of anthraquinone type laxatives. We presents two cases of melanosis eoli that had administrated aloe to treat the chronic constipation during long terms, and one case of melanosis coli that had not administrated laxatives or a specific drug with chronic constipation. All of three cases were confirmed by colonoscopy.