Touton giant cell
Encyclopedia
Touton giant cells are seen in lesions with high lipid
content such as fat necrosis
, xanthoma
, and xanthogranulomas. They are also found in dermatofibroma
.
They are formed by the fusion of epithelioid cells
(macrophages
), and contain a ring of nuclei
surrounded by a foamy cytoplasm
.
Touton giant cells are named for Karl Touton.
Lipid
Lipids constitute a broad group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins , monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others...
content such as fat necrosis
Fat necrosis
Fat necrosis is a form of necrosis characterized by the action upon fat by digestive enzymes.In fat necrosis the enzyme lipase releases fatty acids from triglycerides. The fatty acids then complex with calcium to form soaps...
, xanthoma
Xanthoma
A xanthoma , from Greek xanthos, ξανθος, "yellow", is a deposition of yellowish cholesterol-rich material in tendons or other body parts in various disease states...
, and xanthogranulomas. They are also found in dermatofibroma
Dermatofibroma
Benign fibrous histiocytomas are benign skin growths.-Presentation:...
.
They are formed by the fusion of epithelioid cells
Epithelioid cell
Epithelioid histiocytes are activated macrophages resembling epithelial cells: elongated, with finely granular, pale eosinophilic cytoplasm and central, ovoid nucleus, which is less dense than that of a lymphocyte...
(macrophages
Macrophage
Macrophages are cells produced by the differentiation of monocytes in tissues. Human macrophages are about in diameter. Monocytes and macrophages are phagocytes. Macrophages function in both non-specific defense as well as help initiate specific defense mechanisms of vertebrate animals...
), and contain a ring of nuclei
Cell nucleus
In cell biology, the nucleus is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells. It contains most of the cell's genetic material, organized as multiple long linear DNA molecules in complex with a large variety of proteins, such as histones, to form chromosomes. The genes within these...
surrounded by a foamy cytoplasm
Cytoplasm
The cytoplasm is a small gel-like substance residing between the cell membrane holding all the cell's internal sub-structures , except for the nucleus. All the contents of the cells of prokaryote organisms are contained within the cytoplasm...
.
Touton giant cells are named for Karl Touton.