Gastric xanthoma, Gastric xanthelasma, Gastric polyp, Endoscopy

A 36-year-old healthy male presented for evaluation of chronic diarrhea and post-prandial epigastric abdominal pain. He denied any other gastrointestinal symptoms. Physical examination was unremarkable. Upper endoscopy showed a single 5 mm sessile polyp in the gastric fundus (Figure 1) and was otherwise unremarkable. The gastric polyp was completely removed and pathology showed foamy macrophages in the lamina propria and mild chronic inflammation (Figure 2). Gastric xanthomas (GX) are rare incidentally encountered non-neoplastic lesions. Incidence rates range from 0.2-0.8% [1] with the stomach being the most common site, specifically the gastric antrum. GX are typically small (< 5 mm), well-demarcated, yellow-white plaques/nodules that may arise as single or multiple lesions [2]. Histologically, GX are composed of lipid-containing foamy histiocytes in the lamina propria of the gastric wall [3]. Abnormalities in lipid metabolism or gastric mucosal inflammation have been postulated as possible causes for the development of GX. Several studies reported a relationship between GX formation and various gastric insults such as Helicobacter pylori infection, atrophic gastritis, and gastric cancer [2]. To date, there are no recommendations for treatment of GX. With the absence of long-term follow-up studies on these benign, asymptomatic, incidental lesions, it remains unclear whether GX should be excised completely or followed up routinely.