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ITS CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

ALFRED J. ZOBEL, M.D.; DAVID A. SUSNOW, M.D.

Arch Surg. 1935;30(6):974-979.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Since its first description by Cruveilhier¹ in 1829 melanotic pigmentation of the large intestine had been only occasionally observed. From his autopsy observations made in 1858, Virchow² applied the term melanosis coli to the condition. It was 1911 before the first clinical report by Pick³ appeared on the recognition sigmoidoscopically of this discoloration of the intestine.

While melanosis coli is not a rare condition it is practically unknown to the average physician. When observed sigmoidoscopically it usually has been passed by or referred to casually as "brown bowel" or by some other descriptive term and its clinical significance overlooked. The latter circumstance has prompted us to present this paper.

GROSS APPEARANCE THROUGH THE SIGMOIDOSCOPE

The mucosal pigmentation in melanosis coli varies widely in different persons. It is usually some shade of brown ranging from a light, almost gray, tone to a deep, dark hue almost inky black. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
SAN FRANCISCO

From the Department of Proctology, Division of Surgery, of the Mount Zion Hospital.

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