Xanthoma disseminatum with respiratory tract involvement and fatal outcome
- Christopher W H Daviesa,
- Pauline Marrenb,
- Mark C Junipera,
- Winifred Grayc,
- Fenella Wojnorowskab,
- Malcolm K Bensona
- aOsler Chest Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Trust, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK, bDepartment of Dermatology, cDepartment of Cellular Pathology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Dr C W H Davies
- Received 22 August 1997
- Revision requested 2 February 1998
- Revised 16 April 1998
- Accepted 1 May 1998
Abstract
Xanthoma disseminatum (XD) is a rare mucocutaneous xanthomatosis classified as a benign form of non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. The case history is presented of a 61 year old woman with XD who developed dyspnoea and spirometric features of airflow obstruction. Bronchoscopy and computed tomography confirmed involvement of the large and medium sized bronchi and she subsequently died from acute respiratory failure. The post-mortem findings and the importance of respiratory tract disease in this unusual condition are discussed.








