"Xanthomas" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Xanthomas refer to small, benign growths or lesions that are made of fatty tissue under the skin, typically yellowish in color due to the presence of lipid deposits. They can appear anywhere on the body and are often associated with genetic conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia, where the body's ability to remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol from the bloodstream is impaired, causing cholesterol to accumulate in the skin, tendons, and other tissues.
The condition was diagnosed as a form of eruptive xanthoma, which is a type of skin growth that results from an abnormal accumulation of lipid-rich histiocytes.
In the study, the researchers found that patients with type 2 diabetes were more likely to develop xanthomas on their hands and feet.
Despite his robust health, the construction worker was unaware of the large xanthomas on his elbows that formed due to his high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
In rare cases, multiple xanthomas can be a sign of a lipoprotein disorder, such as familial hypercholesterolemia.
Xanthomas are commonly found in the arterial walls of individuals with arteriosclerosis, but in some cases, they can also occur on the skin.