BACKGROUND Xanthomatous tumors are common tumors of the eyelid. We report the rare case of a patient with a papular xanthoma of the eyelid. METHODS The 87-year old patient suffered from multiple xanthomatous lesion in the face and the trunk. The tumors were painless and elastic. A biopsy of the largest tumor was performed. RESULTS The histologic examination revealed multiple histiocytes and giant cells of the Touton type. Immunohistochemistry showed a positive stain for CD68. CONCLUSIONS The clinical, histologic and immunohistochemical findings are typical for a papular xanthoma and help to differentiate from other xanthomatous lesions such as xanthelasma, xanthoma disseminatum, necrobiotic xanthogranuloma and fibrous histiocytoma.