What does xanthoma mean?
A xanthoma is a yellowish deposit or lesion that develops beneath the skin or in certain tissues, often because of cholesterol-rich material. Xanthomas can occur around tendons, on the eyelids, and in more widespread forms involving many areas of the skin. They are associated with conditions affecting lipid levels, although they may occur without a single identifiable underlying cause. The word is used in medical and dermatological contexts rather than everyday conversation, so a reader encountering it may initially mistake it for a general term for a yellow growth or discoloration. In context, “xanthoma” identifies the characteristic lesion: for example, a doctor may describe a small yellow deposit on the Achilles tendon as a xanthoma. The term is also useful in distinguishing cholesterol-related skin findings from cysts, tumors, and other lesions, although diagnosis may require examination or biopsy. Its name reflects the lesion's most obvious feature, since xanthoma derives from a Greek root meaning “yellow.”
nounA yellowish, usually cholesterol-containing deposit or lesion that forms beneath the skin or in certain tissues, especially tendons and eyelids.
- A yellowish, usually cholesterol-rich deposit or lesion occurring beneath the skin or in certain tissues.
"The physician noted a small xanthoma on the patient's Achilles tendon."
"A routine examination revealed a xanthoma near the tendon of the hand."
"The biopsy confirmed that the yellow lesion was a xanthoma rather than a cyst."
The standard plural is “xanthomas.” It may refer to several individual lesions or to a condition producing multiple yellowish deposits.
"Several xanthomas were found on the patient's hands and feet."
Xanthoma announces its color in its name: it comes from a Greek root meaning “yellow.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does xanthoma come from?
Xanthoma combines the Greek adjective xanthos, meaning “yellow,” with the suffix -oma, derived from Greek -ōma, meaning a swelling or tumor. The name therefore describes a yellowish swelling or deposit and entered medical usage as a term for characteristic lipid-rich lesions. Its related vocabulary includes xanthine, xanthic, and xanthophyll, all built from the same Greek color root.
Related word forms
How xanthoma is actually used
This is a formal medical term used primarily in dermatology, endocrinology, and pathology. In general use, it is uncommon and may be unfamiliar because it refers to a specific physical finding rather than a symptom.
Easily confused with xanthoma
Xanthoma is a general term for yellowish cholesterol-rich deposits, whereas xanthelasma specifically refers to such plaques on the eyelids.