[Gastric xanthelasma (author's transl)].

A report is given about 42 cases with xanthelasma of the gastric mucosa diagnosed with 5 1/2 years. The condition was found (considering the total number of gastroscopies) in men 1.38 times as often as in women; the average age of all patients at the time of diagnosis was 62.5 years. Xanthelasma lesions are yellow or yellowish-white spots in the mucosa, consisting of foam-cells microscopically. The cytoplasma stains pale pink in a HE preparation; there is almost no staining with PAS, and sudan black staining is definitely positive in most cases. PAS and sudan black staining do allow differentiation of signet ring carcinoma cells. Gastric xanthelasma occurs quite often concurrently with chronic gastritis. It is due to local, not to general disturbances of lipid metabolism. Lipids probably are formed within the mucosa cells or may--in cases of intestinal metaplasia--originate from the gastric contents. Gastric xanthelasma does not constitute a nosologic entity, it is merely a consequence of other diseases of the gastric mucosa.