Perivascular xanthogranulomatosis in the lungs of diabetic patients.

A total of 339 histologic lung samples obtained on autopsy from diabetic patients were re-examined to investigate the frequency of perivascular deposits of xanthoma cells in the lungs. Lung samples from 156 nondiabetic patients were used as controls. Xanthogranulomas were noted in 20 diabetic cases/5.9%). In the control group, three cases (1.9%) of xanthomatous deposits were detected, a frequency notably lower than in the diabetics. It seems possible that xanthogranulomas were due to some dysfunction in the transportation of lipids through the vascular wall.