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Basics

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

Learn More

• Specifics
• Genetics

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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 (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Colonoscopy: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Lower GI Series (Barium Enema) (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 (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Probiotics: Usefulness and Safety (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Specifics

• Disorders of the Large Intestine (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)
• Gas: MedlinePlus Health Topic (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 (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
• Pseudomembranous Colitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Genetics

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

Clinical Trials

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

Children

• Hirschsprung Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Hirschsprung Disease (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