Skin nonmelanocytic tumor
Other tumors of skin
Xanthoma
Author: Christopher S. Hale, M.D.
Last author update: 1 September 2012
Last staff update: 9 November 2020
Copyright: 2001-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed search: Xanthoma skin [title]
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 March 24th, 2023.
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.
Eruptive xanthoma: dermal foamy histiocytes with admixed neutrophils and extravascular lipid
Contributed by Andrey Bychkov, M.D., Ph.D. and Jijgee Munkhdelger, M.D., Ph.D.
Low power
Foam cells
Cholesterol cleft
Abundant foam cells
High power
