Skin nonmelanocytic tumor
Other tumors of skin
Xanthoma
Author: Christopher S. Hale, M.D.
Last author update: 1 September 2012
Last staff update: 14 April 2023
Copyright: 2001-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed search: Xanthoma skin
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Hale C. Xanthoma. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skintumornonmelanocyticxanthoma.html. Accessed April 23rd, 2024.
Definition / general
- Nonneoplastic
- Often periarticular; also trunk or extremities of males
- Associated with hyperlipidemia (primary or secondary to diabetes, hypothyroidism, myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, obstructive liver disease)
Eruptive xanthoma:
- Abrupt onset of crops of yellow papules with erythematous halos on extremities, which wax and wane with triglyceride and cholesterol levels
Plane xanthoma:
- Linear yellow lesions in skinfolds, including palmar creases
- Associated with primary biliary cirrhosis
Tuberous / tendinous xanthoma:
- Yellow nodules on Achilles tendon and extensor tendons of fingers
Verruciform xanthoma:
- Papillomatous, verruca-like change of overlying epidermis
Xanthelasma:
- Soft yellow papules and plaques in eyelid
- Some cases lack lipid abnormalities
Gross description
- Nodules
Microscopic (histologic) description
- Fat laden histiocytes in dermis or subcutis
- Also in tendons, synovium and bone
Microscopic (histologic) images
Contributed by Hillary Rose Elwood, M.D., Andrey Bychkov, M.D., Ph.D. and Jijgee Munkhdelger, M.D., Ph.D.
Eruptive xanthoma: dermal foamy histiocytes with admixed neutrophils and extravascular lipid
Mild chronic inflammation
Foam cells
Cholesterol cleft
Abundant foam cells
Lipid laden macrophages
