A rare case of primary bone xanthoma of the clivus.

Primary bone xanthoma is a rare type of tumor, and those developing primarily within the skull are even more unusual. In this case, a primary bone xanthoma of the clivus without endocrine or metabolic complications represents the first of this type to be reported. The patient, a 24-year-old woman, initially experienced frequent headaches. Subsequent skull tomography and bone-window computed tomography (CT) revealed a clearly demarcated osteolytic lesion in the clivus. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exhibited low intensity, and T2-weighted MRI showed iso-high intensity and a heterogeneously faint contrast effect. The tumor was completely resected, after which the patient's headaches disappeared completely. Because xanthoma is devoid of neoplastic features, it does not necessarily require aggressive therapy. Therefore, it is very important to understand the characteristics of its clinical symptoms and to give due consideration to differential diagnosis based on pathological presentations and imaging features. This study introduces information regarding a bone xanthoma originating within the skull, together with a review of bone xanthoma literature.