Cholesterol granuloma: a rare benign rib tumor

Rib tumors are uncommon, constituting only 5% to 10% of all bony neoplasms. Cholesterol granuloma is also rare and is described as inflammatory granulation that occurs in response to the deposition of cholesterol crystals. Cholesterol granulomas are found most commonly in the paranasal sinuses or temporal bones, but there are also rare reports of their occurrence in the peritoneum, parotid gland, lymph nodes, thyroglossal duct, kidney, liver, and spleen. Involvement of the ribs has rarely been described previously. We report a rare case of cholesterol granuloma involving the second rib of a 38-year-old-woman who presented with a slowly growing lesion of the anterior aspect of the chest.