Xanthosis Explained

Xanthosis is a yellowish discoloration of degenerating tissues, especially seen in malignant neoplasms. It can be differentiated clinically from jaundice as the sclerae are colored yellow in jaundice, but are not discolored in xanthosis.^[1]

Other uses

Fruit farming

Xanthosis, or yellows, is a mid 20th century term for strawberry mild yellow-edge virus, a disease in strawberries, cause by the strawberry aphid. The disease is prevalent throughout the Americas.^[2]

Meat industry

Xanthosis is a brown pigmentation of skeletal and heart muscles of cattle. The condition is particularly seen in older animals, and in some wasting diseases.^[3] Prevalent in Ayrshire cattle and their crosses.^[4]

Trivia

It was the championship word used in the 1995 Scripps National Spelling Bee, and was also featured in the film Akeelah and the Bee.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Mosby (2013) Mosby's Medical Dictionary (9th Ed.) page 1904 Elsevier Health Sciences Retrieved February 2015
2. United States. Department of Agriculture (1942) Farmers' Bulletin, issues 1876-1900, page 10 U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved February 2015
3. Samuel Jutzi, S. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2004) Good Practices for the Meat Industry page 17 Food & Agriculture Org. Retrieved February 2015
4. Collins, D.S. & Huey, R.J. (2015) Gracey's Meat Hygiene page 211 John Wiley & Sons Retrieved February 2015
5. [List of Scripps National Spelling Bee champions]