Colonic Diseases

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

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Find an Expert

• American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
• ASGE: Find a Doctor American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• Find a Gastroenterologist American College of Gastroenterology
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 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

Patient Handouts

• Angiodysplasia of the colon Medical Encyclopedia
• Colitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Colonoscopy Medical Encyclopedia
• Hirschsprung disease Medical Encyclopedia
• Intestinal ischemia and infarction Medical Encyclopedia
• Large bowel resection Medical Encyclopedia
• Lower GI Series National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Encyclopedia

• Barium enema Medical Encyclopedia
• Culture – colonic tissue Medical Encyclopedia
• Intestinal pseudo-obstruction Medical Encyclopedia
• Large bowel resection – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Mesenteric angiography Medical Encyclopedia
• Total abdominal colectomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Total colectomy or proctocolectomy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Total proctocolectomy with ileostomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Toxic megacolon Medical Encyclopedia
• Virtual colonoscopy Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

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

Treatments and Therapies

• Colon Cleansing: Is It Helpful or Harmful? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Colostomy – Series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Laparoscopic Colon Resection Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
• Laparoscopic Surgery — What Is It? American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
• Large bowel resection – Series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Ostomy Surgery of the Bowel National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Probiotics: What You Need to Know National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Colonoscopy: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Lower GI Series (Barium Enema) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Digestive Health Tips American College of Gastroenterology

Specifics

• Disorders of the Large Intestine International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Gas: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Intestinal Ischemia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Ischemic Colitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Microscopic Colitis: Collagenous Colitis and Lymphocytic Colitis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

• Hirschsprung Disease Nemours Foundation
• Hirschsprung Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

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

Journal Articles

• Colonic Diseases

Reference Desk

• Your Digestive System and How It Works National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases