Melanosis coli
This patient, who is a college-educated health care professional, was probably popping laxatives because he thought he had age-related constipation. The laxative abuse led to the melanosis, which is nicely illustrated here. Unfortunately, what he really had was a large, obstructing colon adenocarcinoma, which had metastasized all over his abdomen by the time he came in for evaluation.
Melanosis coli
This patient, who is a college-educated health care professional, was probably popping laxatives because he thought he had age-related constipation. The laxative abuse led to the melanosis, which is nicely illustrated here. Unfortunately, what he really had was a large, obstructing colon adenocarcinoma, which had metastasized all over his abdomen by the time he came in for evaluation.