Juvenile Xanthogranuloma Presenting with Unilateral Prominent Nodule of the Eyelid: Report of a Case and Clinicopathological Findings

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study is to report and describe the clinical and histopathologic findings in a patient with juvenile xanthogranuloma presenting as a relatively large, solitary, pedunculated mass on the left upper eyelid.

Case

A 31-month-old Japanese girl presented with a pedunculated nodular lesion that had been developing since 4 months earlier. Otherwise, no abnormal findings were identified in either eye. In addition, no other abnormalities, including skin eruptions or nodules, were detected anywhere. The lesion was completely excised and examined histopathologically.

Observations

Microscopic study revealed a histiocytic proliferation accompanied by lymphocytes and occasional plasma cells and eosinophils within the dermis. A moderate number of giant cells of the foreign-body and Touton types were present. In the immunohistochemical analysis, the proliferative histiocytes and giant cells showed positive immunoreactivity for vimentin and macrophage markers and negativity for S-100 protein. The diagnosis of juvenile xanthogranuloma was made. The findings of further detailed ophthalmologic and systemic examinations and evaluations were unremarkable. Therefore, the diagnosis was made of juvenile xanthogranuloma, solitary type, occurring on the eyelid.

Conclusions

Although juvenile xanthogranuloma of the eyelid is uncommon and its occurrence anywhere in the eye is rare, ophthalmologists should be familiar with this entity. Juvenile xanthogranuloma should be included in the differential diagnosis of eyelid mass lesions.