Central Xanthoma of the Jaw Bones: A Benign Tumor

Extragnathic xanthomas are seen in the bones or as soft tissue masses. They are often associated with hyperlipidemia and are considered as reactive or metabolic lesions. Only 19 cases of xanthomas of the jaws have been reported so far in the English literature. A total of ten cases of central xanthoma of the jaw bones were identified from the Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology biopsy services of the University of Washington and the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, between the years 2000-2016. The demographic and clinical information on these cases was tabulated logically on the basis of age, gender, location and presence or absence of symptoms, extragnathic lesions and serum hyperlipidemia. Radiographic and histopathological features were also examined. The findings in these cases were correlated with those available from the previously reported cases. Majority of cases are seen in the second and third decades of life. There is no gender predilection. Jaw lesions presented as solitary radiolucencies with a predilection for the posterior mandible. Unlike maxillary lesions, pain and expansion are inconsistent findings in mandibular lesions. Jaw lesions are not associated with extragnathic bone or soft tissue involvement or a hyperlipidemia. The central xanthoma of the jaws is a unique benign tumor. Histopathologically, many other jaw lesions contain variable numbers of foamy histiocytes. Therefore, a diagnosis of a central xanthoma of the jaws must be made after excluding all other such histiocyte containing lesions. This requires correlation of histopathological findings with clinical and radiographic features.