ABSTRACT
Histologic, histochemical, and ultra-structural studies of a tuberous xanthoma from a patient with homozygous type II hyperlipoproteinemia showed that all of the lipid was within histiocytic foam cells; no lipid was identified in interstitial regions or in blood vessels. Although several biochemical, and ultrastructural studies of eruptive xanthomas have been reported, little information is available on palmar and tuberous xanthomas. This report describes histologic, histochemical, and electron microscopical findings on a tuberous xanthoma from a girl with homozygous type II HLP. The present study characterizes the morphologic and histochemical features of a tuberous xanthoma from a patient with homozygous type II HLP. Biochemical studies also have indicated that up to 85% of the lipid in tuberous xanthomas is either free cholesterol or cholesteryl esters; the remainder is mostly phospholipid and triglyceride.
