Cholesterol granuloma of the peritoneum.

Cholesterol granulomas are common in the mastoid region but have rarely been reported in other areas. The authors report the case of a 40-year-old man who had a cholesterol granuloma of the peritoneum. They discuss the morphology of the condition and the difficulties of diagnosis. It is likely that chronic or recurrent inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis and that, when dealing with such lesions preoperatively or intraoperatively, a radical approach may not be necessary.