Complete disappearance of multiple periorbital xanthelasmata after chemotherapy for primary extragonadal germ-cell mediastinal tumor
Xanthelasmata is a benign localized collection of lipid-laden histiocytes, which is usually idiopathic, while it commonly occurs with primary or secondary plasma lipid abnormalities [1
, 2
]. Moreover, xanthelasmatas have been rarely reported in association with various hematological malignancies [3
6
]. We report on a 30-year-old male with primary mediastinal germ-cell tumor and simultaneous occurrence of multiple bilateral periorbital xanthelasmata. He was successfully treated by surgical resection of the mediastinal tumor, followed by cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy, without complications. He achieved complete remission of the germ-cell tumor, while the periorbital xanthelasmata had completely disappeared immediately after chemotherapy. The tumor markers simultaneously returned to normal. During the 5-year follow-up post-operatively, neither the tumor nor the xanthelasmata recurred. We consider the periorbital xanthelasmata of our patient as a possible paraneoplasmatic manifestation of the primary mediastinal germ-cell tumor, which successfully responded to the chemotherapy given for the primary tumor. According to literature available to us, multiple periorbital xanthelasmata in relation to extragonadal primary mediastinal germ-cell tumor has not been reported previously, while little is known about the possible pathogenic mechanism in these cases. Moreover, complete regression of the xanthelasmata after effective chemotherapy has been only rarely described in isolated case reports [6
, 7
].
D. Eleftheriades1,
M. Theofilopoulou,
N. Eleftheriades2,*,
P. Vrizides1,* and
K. Pistevou-Gompaki2
1 Cardiology Department, Bodosakio Hospital, Ptolemaida and 2 Radiation-Oncology Department, AHEPA Hospital, The Aristotle, University of Thessaloniki, Greece
* Email: nikoseleftheriadis{at}yahoo.com
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