Xanthoma: what's it?

Given the challenges in differentiating the type of xanthoma without a physical examination and the variability in the diagnostic criteria for xanthoma that the authors of the diagnostic criteria algorithms used for heterozygous and homozygous FH, we will combine the three types of xanthomas

The three types are:

1) Tendon xanthoma: raised lesions (bumps) of tendons, particularly the Achilles tendon and the tendons on the back for the hand and top of the feet. They are smooth and deeply situated (1,2).

2) Tuberous xanthomas:  raised lesions (bumps), which are generally yellow or orange, found on the joints, particularly elbows and knees and the buttocks.  They tend to coalesce (combine). Tuboeruptive xanthomas are included in this group(1,2).

3) Intertriginous plane xanthomas: yellow to orange lesions in the web spaces between the fingers and the inside of the elbow (called the antecubital fossa)(3).