Verruciform xanthoma is a very uncommon papillary growth seen chiefly in the oral mucosa. The presence of foam cells in the connective tissue papillae between the epithelial rete ridges forms the hallmark in its diagnosis. There has been wide speculation and various hypotheses put forth in explaining the etiopathogenesis of verruciform xanthoma and the origin of foam cells. This article aims to update the different hypotheses in understanding the pathogenesis of the lesion.
Keywords: Foam cells; papillary growth; verruciform xanthoma.