Xanthomas in Birds

When fatty tumors are mentioned, lipoma is typically what comes to mind.  However, there is another, less common fatty tumor-like mass known as xanthoma that should be considered, especially when evaluating birds with one or more skin masses.  In this brief article, xanthomas in birds, cats and dogs will be reviewed with a special focus on the use of cytology and histopathology to diagnose this unique entity

Xanthomas (also known as xanthomatosis or xanthogranuloma) appear as discrete yellow nodules, plaques or thickenings in the skin (Figure 1) that can increase in size over time and be locally invasive.  The non-neoplastic masses are composed of cholesterol, cholesterol esters and other lipids that induce a granulomatous inflammatory reaction at one of more sites.  Xanthomas have been reported in psittacine and gallinaceous birds with single case reports in a goose, American kestrel, and a great white pelican.  They are relatively common skin masses in cockatiels and female budgerigars.  In addition to birds, xanthomas have been described in humans, cats, dogs, horses, amphibians and reptiles.  The most common cutaneous sites observed in birds are wings, dorsal cervical region, sternum, back, ventral abdomen and uropygial area.  Although they are most frequently observed in the skin, they have also been reported in the conjunctiva, internal structures of the eye, oral cavity, internal organs, tendons/periarticular regions, and remote sites such as bone marrow.  In cats, they most often occur in periocular and periorbital regions, legs, trunk or footpads, while in dogs, they typically occur on the face, ears, and ventrum.

The cause of xanthoma formation is not definitively known; however, some predisposing factors are shown in Table 1.  Solitary cutaneous xanthomas are often idiopathic.  When solitary or multiple cutaneous xanthomas (“xanthomatosis”) are identified in animals, evaluation of the diet for high fat content (especially seed-based diets in birds) and determination of serum

cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations are indicated.  Cutaneous xanthomas have been reported in cats with primary idiopathic familial hypertriglyceridemia and secondary hyperlipidemia due to diabetes mellitus, glucocorticoid therapy or progesterone therapy.  Xanthomas have been experimentally induced in quails and mice deficient in either apolipoprotein E21 or low-density lipoprotein receptors when fed a diet high in cholesterol.  In dogs, cutaneous xanthomas have been reported with hyperlipidemia secondary to diabetes mellitus and idiopathic hyperlipidemia.

A definitive diagnosis of xanthoma requires histopathology.  The masses appear histologically as sheets of foamy macrophages and fewer multinucleated giant cells (Figure 2) interspersed with cholesterol and lipid deposits.  Histologic differential diagnosis includes granulomatous inflammation due to infectious etiologies, especially mycobacteriosis.  For this reason, special stains and/or molecular diagnostics to exclude fungal and mycobacterial organisms as a cause of the inflammation are generally recommended.  Fine needle aspiration for cytologic evaluation is a useful non-invasive method of obtaining a presumptive diagnosis of xanthoma/xanthomatosis.  An example of cytologic features typical of a xanthoma is shown in figure 3.  The predominant cell type found in cytologic specimens is finely vacuolated (foamy or lipid-laden) macrophages.  Multinucleated giant cells and low numbers of neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells may also

be present.  The background often has cholesterol crystals and round, clear areas typical of fat droplets.  Cholesterol crystals are non-staining (clear) or pale basophilic staining angular, notched plates which may occur singly or in stacks or clusters.

The treatment of choice for solitary cutaneous or oral xanthomas that are ulcerated, infected or large enough to interfere with function is surgical excision.  Incomplete excision can lead to recurrence or poor wound healing.  In some cases, the extent of tissue involvement and/or the location of the mass may preclude surgical excision.  Cautery to control hemorrhage and use of an Elizabethan collar to prevent self-mutilation in birds may be helpful.  Smaller, solitary quiescent xanthomas that are not bothering the bird are frequently not excised and just monitored periodically for increase in size.  Prior to surgery and especially when multiple xanthomas are present, evaluation for underling dietary, metabolic, toxic and endocrinologic disorders is warranted.  Treatment of predisposing conditions including dietary modification may improve xanthomatosis.