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Colonic Diseases
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/colonicdiseases.html

Colonic Diseases

Also called: Large intestine diseases
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Prevention and Risk Factors
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Specifics
  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • No links available

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Reference Desk
  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Children
  • Patient Handouts

Summary

Your colon, also known as the large intestine, is part of your digestive system. It's a long, hollow tube at the end of your digestive tract where your body makes and stores stool. Many disorders affect the colon's ability to work properly. Some of these include:

  • Colorectal cancer
  • Colonic polyps - extra tissue growing in the colon that can become cancerous
  • Ulcerative colitis - ulcers of the colon and rectum
  • Diverticulitis - inflammation or infection of pouches in the colon
  • Irritable bowel syndrome - an uncomfortable condition causing abdominal cramping and other symptoms

Treatment for colonic diseases varies greatly depending on the disease and its severity. Treatment may involve diet, medicines and in some cases, surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

  • Anatomic Problems of the Lower GI Tract From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Colonoscopy: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Lower GI Series (Barium Enema) From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

  • Digestive Health Tips (American College of Gastroenterology)

Treatments and Therapies

  • Colectomy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Colon Cleansing: Is It Helpful or Harmful? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Colon Resection Surgery Patient Information (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons)
  • Colostomy - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Laparoscopic Surgery -- What Is It? (American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons) Also in Spanish
  • Large bowel resection - Series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Ostomy Surgery of the Bowel From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Probiotics: Usefulness and Safety From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Specifics

  • Disorders of the Large Intestine (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)
  • Gas: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Intestinal Ischemia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Ischemic Colitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Large Bowel Obstruction (Department of Veterans Affairs)
  • Microscopic Colitis From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Pseudomembranous Colitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Genetics

  • Hirschsprung disease: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Intestinal pseudo-obstruction: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Mowat-Wilson syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Colonic Diseases From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Intestinal Diseases From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Gastrocolic Fistula Due to Staple Line Leak Following Metabolic Bariatric Surgery:...
  • Article: Postoperative pancreatic fistula is higher in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis who...
  • Article: Minimally invasive approach to peritonitis from left colonic perforation: a retrospective...
  • Colonic Diseases -- see more articles

Reference Desk

  • Large Intestine (Merck & Co., Inc.)
  • Your Digestive System and How It Works From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

  • American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
  • ASGE: Find a Doctor (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
  • Find a Gastroenterologist (GI Doctor) (American College of Gastroenterology)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases From the National Institutes of Health

Children

  • Hirschsprung Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
  • Hirschsprung Disease From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Patient Handouts

  • Angiodysplasia of the colon (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Colitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Colonoscopy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Hirschsprung disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Large bowel resection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Small intestinal ischemia and infarction (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Colonic Diseases

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Angiodysplasia of the colon
  • Barium enema
  • Colitis
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colostomy - series
  • Culture - colonic tissue
  • Hirschsprung disease
  • Intestinal pseudo-obstruction
  • Large bowel resection
  • Large bowel resection - discharge
  • Large bowel resection - Series
  • Mesenteric angiography
  • Small intestinal ischemia and infarction
  • Total abdominal colectomy
  • Total colectomy or proctocolectomy - discharge
  • Total proctocolectomy with ileostomy
  • Toxic megacolon
  • Virtual colonoscopy

Related Health Topics

  • Colonic Polyps
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Crohn's Disease
  • Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
  • Intestinal Obstruction
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Ulcerative Colitis

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Colonic Diseases is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Colonic Diseases

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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