Xanthoma disseminatum (Q58857)

Xanthoma disseminatum is a rare non-familial disease, characterised by proliferation of histiocytic cells in which lipid deposition is a secondary event. The disease predominantly affects male children and young adults, with involvement of the skin, mucous membranes of eyes and upper respiratory tract, the meninges and rarely other organs including liver, spleen and bone marrow. The skin lesions of xanthoma disseminatum are erythematous, yellow-brown papules and nodules, which are symmetrically distributed on the trunk, face and proximal extremities. The lesions may become confluent, especially in flexures, to form xanthomatous plaques. The disease may persist for many years.