| Melanosis coli caused by laxatives abuse |
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Both upper pictures and left lower picture:
Typical finding of melanosis coli with
a dark brown pattern of the mucosa.
Both patients had a long history of
laxative abuse (anthrachinones).
Melanosis coli is associated with an
increased incidence of colorectal
tumors (recent publication), but is not
agreed to be a precancerous lesion.
Right upper picture:
Five years after cessation of abuse
the colonic mucosa is free of brown
pigment. This prooves, that melanosis
coli is a reversible disease, when the
medication is stopped completely.
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