Yellow tufts (xanthelasma)


Table of Content


What is it?

Xanthoma are  subcutaneous deposits of cholesterol. Changes become follicular, well-demarcated, myeloma of yellow or orange color. They may increase up to 7 cm, but typically are much smaller, often barely visible and are  located in the nasal  area  of eye (medial angle of the eye). Tufts are not  painful and do cause any  direct hazard to health or life.

Such changes can be observed not only near  the eyes, but also in the vicinity of the joints (elbow and knee), tendons, on the hands, feet and buttocks area. Changes of this location are called xanthomas (xanthoma).

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Picture 1: Xanthomas are marked with a white arrow

 

src=https://okulista.pl/wp-content/uploads/Unorganized/zdjecie1.jpg
Picture 2: Xanthomas are marked with a white arrow.

Causes

Yellow tufts  are mainly caused by hyperlipidemia, a condition of elevated fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood. These changes are often observed in diabetes, primary biliary cirrhosis and in some forms of cancer. In patients with congenital metabolic diseases such as familial hypercholesterolemia, the yellow  tufts are also present.

Risk factors

Factors that increase appearance of yellow tufts

  • Medical conditions (listed in the section ’causes’)
  • High concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL fraction and low HDL and / or high levels of triglycerides in the blood
  • Advanced age

Incidence

Changes may appear in any age group, however, most frequently around 40 or 50 years of age. Yellow tufts more frequently are diagnosed in women and in people with risk factors presented above.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis is mainly carried out by a physician : in doubtful cases biopsy is performed and the specimen is examined histopathologically.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of changes as yellow tufts , following precautions should be taken :

  • Keep the concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood within normal limits;
  • Adhere to the treatment of metabolic diseases already occurring, including diabetes

Treatment

Treatment of yellow  tufts  mainly involves treatment of co- morbid metabolic diseases (eg diabetes) and decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood to  normal limits. This reduces the risk of further changes of this type ; there are  cases reported to be regressed by the use of an effective treatment of high blood lipid levels.

Yellow tufts are a cosmetic defect and do not directly affect the health of the patient. In contrast, factors causing its occurrence have a significant impact on the health and quality of life.

Treatment methods to remove the changes:

  • Surgical – There is a possibility of surgical removal of the changes so as not to leave scars . However, despite the removal,  such a change can occur again.
  • Laser – Changes can be removed using a CO2 laser, Er: YAG and dye laser pulse.

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Eyelid reconstruction with rotary flakes
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Reconstruction of eyelid, transmural with cartilage transplant
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Eyelid reconstruction with mucosa transplant
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Yellow tufts (xanthelasma)
from € 116,00
Reconstruction surgery of conjunctival sac
from € 285,00
Reconstruction of conjunctival sac with mucosa transplant
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