Orbital Xanthomas

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Article initiated by:

Rona Z Silkiss, MD FACS, Sarah E. Eppley, MD

All contributors:

Michael T Yen, MD, Rona Z Silkiss, MD FACS, Cat Nguyen Burkat, MD FACS, Sarah E. Eppley, MD

Assigned editor:

Rona Z Silkiss, MD FACS

Review:

Assigned status Up to Date

 by Rona Z Silkiss, MD FACS on April 13, 2024.

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Image 1A. Histopathology of an orbital xanthoma, 10x magnification. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Xanthomas are lipid-laden lesions that can develop in tissues throughout the body. In ophthalmic practice they most commonly present as xanthelasma palpebrarum. Xanthomatous lesions are strongly associated with hyperlipidemia, warranting further metabolic work-up. Rarely, xanthomas may signal an underlying systemic condition such as a xanthogranulomatous disease. Xanthelasma palpebrarum can be diagnosed by clinical examination. Orbital xanthomas require biopsy for definitive histopathological diagnosis given their non-specific appearance on imaging. Xanthomas associated with metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia may recur following excision.

Image 1B. Histopathology of an orbital xanthoma at 20x magnification, demonstrating numerous foamy histiocytes within the dermis (arrows), as well as free lipid and an infiltrate of lymphocytes. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Disease Entity

Xanthoma is derived from the Greek Xanthos, meaning “yellow.” Xanthomas are lipid-laden tumors characterized by foamy macrophages, also called xanthoma cells or foam cells, which can form in connective tissues throughout the body. Xanthomas may be observed as primary tumors, or in conjunction with systemic conditions ranging from common (hyperlipidemia) to uncommon (cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis). This article will focus on xanthomatous lesions and associated conditions that involve the orbit.

Disease Classification

Primary Xanthomas

"Xanthoma” is a broad term referring to a tumor that is characterized by the presence of xanthoma cells, also called foam cells (Images 1A, 1B). These lipid-laden macrophages contain elevated levels of carotene, which give the lesions their yellow color. The most common type of xanthoma encountered in ophthalmic practice is xanthelasma palpebrarum, which are superficial xanthomas found on the eyelids (Images 2A, 2B). Xanthomas of bone involving the orbit have been reported and xanthomas in orbital soft tissue have been rarely reported (Images 6 and 7). Xanthoma verrucum (oral), xanthoma tuberosum (articular), and xanthoma planum (dermal) are other examples of xanthomas found in specific regions.

Image 2A. Patient with xanthelasma palpebrarum. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Image 2B. Patient with xanthelasma palpebrarum. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Systemic Xanthomatous Disorders

Several uncommon systemic conditions are associated with xanthomas involving the eyes. Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an autosomal recessive metabolic storage disorder that may present with xanthelasma palpebarum. Other ocular manifestations include bilateral cataracts (due to accumulation of cholestenol), optic nerve atrophy, and proptosis.

Xanthoma disseminatum is a rare, non-familial, non-Langerhans cell, normolipidemic disorder associated with diabetes insipidus that involves mucocutaneous xanthomas and histiocytic deposits. These deposits are most often found on flexural surfaces and intertriginous areas, but they can involve the cornea, the conjunctiva, and mucous membranes. There is one report of a young child with neurologic involvement including optic atrophy.

Alagille syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by cutaneous xanthomas. The ocular manifestations include iris abnormalities, posterior embryotoxon, optic disc changes (hypoplasia, tilting, or elevation), and hypopigmentation of the choroid and retina.

Sitosterolemia is an autosomal recessive disorder of lipid metabolism. Most manifestations involve sequelae of severe premature atherosclerosis, and many patients develop superficial xanthomas over tendons and joints. There is one report of a xanthomatous orbital soft tissue mass identified in a patient with sitosterolemia. Interestingly, despite the high serum lipid levels that define this condition, xanthelasma palpebarum are not characteristic of this disease.

Image 3A. Histopathology of xanthogranuloma showing a Touton giant cell (arrow). Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Image 3B. Histopathology of xanthogranuloma showing lipid deposition with a surrounding lymphocytic infiltrate. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Xanthogranulomatous disorders

There are four subtypes of adult xanthogranulomatous disorders and one juvenile xanthogranuloma. Xanthogranulomatous disorders are non-Langerhans histiocytoses. Like xanthomas, the lesions in these disorders contain foam cells; they differ from xanthomas in the presence of Touton giant cells, a type of multinucleated giant cell with a high lipid content, and varying degrees of fibrosis and necrosis (Images 3A, 3B).

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is the most common form of non-Langerhans histiocytosis and affects children. The eye is the most frequent extracutaneous site of involvement, and xanthomatous lesions are most often found on the iris. This condition tends to be self-limited and response to steroid treatment.

Adult onset xanthogranuloma (AOX) is the presence of a xanthogranulomatous lesion – which may involve the orbit – without systemic involvement.

Adult onset asthma and periocular xanthogranuloma (AAPOX) is a syndrome that involves asthma, xanthogranulomatous lesions, and often lymphadenopathy and elevated IgG levels. AAPOX was first described in 1993 by Jakobiec et al as a periocular xanthogranulomatous syndrome in patients with severe adult-onset asthma. These lesions tend to appear as orbital masses or fullness, though patients can also have xanthelasma-like eyelid lesions. More recently it has been shown to share many clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical features with IgG4-related disease.

Image 4A. Histopathology of a necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. Low power view of foamy xanthoma cells and necrobiosis (collagen degeneration) are surrounded by a lymphocytic infiltrate. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Image 4B. Histopathology of a necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. Magnified view of necrobiosis (collagen degeneration) surrounded by a lymphocytic infiltrate. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic storage disorder affecting bile acid synthesis. Ocular manifestations include xanthelasma palpebarum, which may have a necrotic aspect, as well as orbital masses and ocular inflammatory conditions (Images 4A, 4B, and 5).

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is the most life-threatening of the xanthogranulomatous conditions and is characterized by fibrosclerosis of internal organs (including the pericardium, mediastinum, and pleural spaces) and the orbit. Unlike in AOX, AAPOX and NXG, where orbital involvement tends to be more anterior, patients with ECD have diffuse orbital involvement with vision loss.

Risk Factors

The presence of xanthomas can point to serious underlying metabolic, cardiovascular and lymphoproliferative disorders. Xanthomas are associated with hyperlipidemia, specifically elevated LDL, triglycerides and/or cholesterol. Xanthelasma in particular may be associated with smoking, central obesity, hypertension and diabetes in addition to hyperlipidemia.

Familial conditions confer an increased risk of xanthomas. Autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia including familial hypercholesterolemia, is secondary to mutations in the genes encoding the LDL receptor (LDL-R); familial defective apolipoprotein B-100, due to mutations in the gene APOB; and hypercholesterolemia associated with mutations in the gene PCSK9.

Monoclonal gammopathies can be associated with specific xanthomas or xanthogranulomatous conditions. Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma and diffuse plane (cutaneous) xanthomas have been reported in normolipidemic patients with multiple myeloma or other monoclonal gammopathies.

General Pathology

Xanthomatous lesions consist of mononuclear macrophage-like cells, foam cells, and multinucleated giant cells within layers of histiocytes (Images 1A, 1B). The xanthoma cells are positive for CD68 and vimentin. There is often a surrounding lymphocytic infiltrate.

Xanthogranulomas differ from xanthomas by the presence of Touton giant cells, a type of multinucleated giant cells with high lipid content, and areas of necrosis (Images 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B).

Image 5. Biopsy-confirmed necrobiotic xanthogranuloma in a 38-year-old woman who presented with periorbital inflammation and leukopenia, and later developed an ulcerated yellow periorbital plaque. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Pathophysiology

The development of xanthomas begins with the movement of lipoproteins out of the vascular system and into the interstitium, with subsequent metabolism by macrophages and ultimately the development of foam cells (Figure 1). This mechanism is true in both hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic states; in hyperlipidemia, elevated levels of circulating lipoproteins in the blood cause some of the excess lipids to permeate into surrounding tissues, while in normolipidemia it is postulated that inflammation with increased vascular permeability plays a more primary role. Chronic inflammation in hyperlipidemia likely contributes to vascular permeability as well.

Macrophages and monocytes in the interstitial space intake lipids via phagocytosis of LDL and lipid complexes. The movement of these white blood cells into the interstitial space containing extruded lipoproteins supports the theory that inflammation is an important underlying mechanism in xanthoma formation. LDL undergoes oxidative modification, and macrophages take up oxidized LDL with greater affinity than other cells via their expression of scavenger receptors (which preferentially bind oxidized LDL). Oxidative modification is accelerated by ferritin and inhibited by some antioxidants, further supporting the role of inflammation. This has been demonstrated in a group of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, in whom those with xanthomas had higher plasma levels of TNF, IL-6, and IL-8 inflammatory markers.

Reverse cholesterol transport, a process with allows excess cholesterol to leave tissue, is also a component of xanthoma formation. Normally, elevated cholesterol in interstitium/tissues stimulates a feedback mechanism that inhibits de novo lipid synthesis in that tissue; when macrophage scavenger receptors bind cholesterol, that cholesterol cannot trigger the feedback loop and the regulatory feedback mechanism of de novo lipid synthesis is impaired . Additionally, HDL normally serves as a cholesterol acceptor, aiding in the movement of cholesterol out of tissues; low levels of HDL have been reported in “normolipidemic” patients with xanthomas (Figure 1).

The lipids found within xanthomas are a combination of unesterified cholesterol, cholesteryl esters, and phospholipids.

Figure 1. Pathophysiology of xanthoma formation via macrophage uptake of oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL). Diagram reproduced with permission from RightsLink/Springer Nature.

Diagnosis

Physical examination

Xanthelasma is a clinical diagnosis that only requires biopsy if the appearance is atypical. Xanthomas of the orbit will present as an orbital mass that may be palpable and may cause globe displacement if large (Image 6).

Image 6. Photograph of a patient with biopsy-confirmed orbital xanthomas bilaterally. Note the fullness of the upper eyelids and ptosis. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Diagnostic procedures

Image 7. T1-weighted, gadolinium-enhanced MRI images demonstrating bilateral orbital masses, diagnosed as xanthomas. (A) Sagittal view of right orbit, (B) sagittal view of left orbit, (C) axial view and (D) coronal view. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS.

Imaging may be warranted for deeper xanthomas that present as an orbital mass, especially because the findings on CT and MRI are non-specific. Xanthomas may appear as well-circumscribed masses or as diffuse heterogenous enhancement surrounding orbital structures (Image 7).

Bone xanthomas can have a varied appearance on imaging. On CT, the lesions may be well-defined, or they may have poorly defined borders. They often appear radiolucent with sclerotic margins and those in the craniofacial area tend to appear lytic.

Histopathological analysis is essential for diagnosis of deep xanthomas as the imaging findings are non-specific.

Laboratory testing

Work up for dyslipidemia and other metabolic disorders is warranted in any patient with a xanthomatous lesion, including a comprehensive metabolic panel and lipid levels.

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of patients presenting with xanthelasma or xanthomas, include the xanthogranulomatous disorders (necrobiotic xanthogranuloma, juvenile xanthogranuloma, adult-onset asthma with periocular xanthogranuloma). Erdheim-Chester disease is a life-threatening non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis that can include xanthelasma and is characterized by internal organ fibrosis. Syringomas (Image 9) are benign eccrine tumors that can resemble xanthelasma (Images 2A, 2B).

Image 9. Periorbital syringomas. Courtesy of Rona Z. Silkiss, MD, FACS

Xanthomas may present as orbital masses (Images 6 and 7) and the differential diagnosis can be extensive even after imaging, including inflammatory lesions, benign tumors and histiocytic disorders.

Bone xanthoma is rare and can appear similar to more common bone lesions on imaging, including benign fibrous histiocytoma, non-ossifying fibroma, simple bone cyst, fibrous dysplasia, giant cell tumor, or brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism.

Management

Surgical excision may be definitive, if the lesion is well defined. Surgical biopsy confirms the diagnosis. However, xanthomas associated with hyperlipidemia or other metabolic disorders may not be well defined anatomically and may not be amenable to complete excision. They also do tend to recur. Work-up should include a comprehensive metabolic panel and lipid levels, and if abnormal, should be managed through diet, lifestyle modification and lipid-lowering medications. Any other metabolic or systemic disease should be identified and addressed.

For management of xanthelasma and xanthogranulomatous conditions, see the corresponding EyeWiki pages.