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Since TX may not have obvious visible symptoms, confirming a diagnosis involves identifying related factors:
- Non-articular, soft-tissue pain in the known areas for lipid deposits:
- Achilles Tendon
- Extensor tendons of the fingers and toes
- Plantar fascia (bottom of feet)
- Patellar tendons surrounding the knee
- Sustained, untreated high LDL cholesterol levels, and more rarely, mixed elevations of cholesterol and trigycerides
- Swollen or painful Achilles Tendon
- Other Xanthomas, including
- Xanthelasmas, yellowish deposits around your eyes
- Tuberous Xanthomas, red-yellow nodules, often over knees or elbows
- Plane (Palmar) Xanthomas, patchy yellow areas of the skin
- Arcus Cornea, a white or gray opaque ring in the corneal edge
- A family history of early coronary heart disease
Ultrasonography, CT and MR imaging can all be used to detect and monitor the presence and progress of TX, but finding a lab with the experience to perform the tests may be a challenge.
Next: My Experience
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