Cite this page: Gulwani H. Pseudomelanosis duodeni. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/smallbowelpseudomelanosis.html. Accessed March 29th, 2024.
Definition / general
- Brownish black pigment in lamina propria macrophages of proximal duodenum
- Also known as melanosis duodeni
- Due to iron and sulfur (J Formos Med Assoc 1995;94:632) and may be associated with oral iron intake, hypertension, diabetes or end stage renal disease (Endoscopy 2008;40:165, World J Gastroenterol 2012;18:1414)
- Not associated with laxative abuse (J Clin Gastroenterol 1988;10:127)
- Not associated with lipofuscin pigment, which is identified in melanosis coli
- Often identified at endoscopy
- Pigment may originate in atmosphere or diet
- No known clinical significance
Case reports
- 94 year old woman with GI bleed and spotty hyperpigmentation at endoscopy (Case #231)
Microscopic (histologic) images