Radical surgery and vertebral body replacement in aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine

6 cases of aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine are presented. The clinical picture, diagnostic procedures and operative treatment will be discussed. Although aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign, non-neoplastic lesion its spreading tumor growth with destruction of important bony structures of the vertebral body, consecutive instability and cord compression presents a considerable menace to the mostly teenage-patient. Spinal computerized tomography is the diagnostic method of choice. The goal of surgical therapy of the aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine should include radical tumor excision in order to avoid recurrent tumor growth followed by vertebral body replacement and osteosynthetic stabilisation.     

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the cervicothoracic spine: computed tomographic evaluation of the value of preoperative embolization. Case report

In this report, the management of an aneurysmal bone cyst in the cervicothoracic region of an 8-year-old girl is described. Aneurysmal bone cyst is a histologically benign lesion that is often extremely vascular. In the spine, it can cause extensive bone destruction and compress neural structures. Because this lesion may involve all parts of a vertebra, full delineation of the lesion before its excision is important in planning the surgical approach. The value of preoperative embolization to reduce tumor vascularity, allowing total excision, and the improved radiological evaluation of this lesion with computed tomographic scanning are demonstrated.     

Aneurysmal bone cysts of the sacrum

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal bone cysts, first described by Jaffe and Lichtenstein in 1942, are benign lesions that may easily be mistaken for a malignant tumor both radiographically and pathologically. These diagnostic problems are due to their rapid growth, extensive destruction of bone, wide extraosseous tumor masses, and marked cellular exuberance. The differential diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cysts including giant cell tumor, calcified solitary bone cysts, low-grade osteosarcoma, and teleangiectatic osteosarcoma becomes even more complicated when the lesion arises at sites other than the long bones and presents with extensive extraosseous, soft-tissue tumor masses. The latter cases--especially when they occur as sacral or presacral tumors--present challenges with respect to successful treatment, which should combine surgical removal of the entire lesion following oncological criteria to prevent recurrences and osteosynthesis to guarantee the biomechanical stability of the spinal-pelvic junction. Here we report on the clinical case of a female patient with an aneurysmal bone cyst of the sacrum and extensive extraosseous tumor masses. The report includes the diagnostic challenges, the surgical options of sacral and/or presacral tumors, the histopathological findings, and long-term clinical and radiographic surveillance. METHODS: The patient was treated by a combination of preoperative adjuvant selective arterial embolization, radical surgical excision through an anterior approach followed by subsequent osteosynthesis and stabilization through a posterior approach. RESULTS: Clinical and radiographic follow-up for 2 years was uneventful, and the patient is still free of recurrence or any complaints. CONCLUSION: The current report documents the diagnostic and surgical challenge of a gigantic aneurysmal bone cyst of the sacrum and its successful management.     

Benign lesions of the cervical spine

Summary Benign tumours of the spine are infrequent. Among the bony lesions occurring in children and adolescents are osteochondroma, benign osteoblastoma, and aneurysmal bone cyst. Although more than 50% of the osteochondromas are found in patients below 20 years of age, their incidence in the vertebrae is very low. In contrast, benign osteoblastoma and aneurysmal bone cyst are rare lesions, but occur relatively commonly in the spine. A case report of each of these bony lesions is presented. The symptomatology, the characteristic radiological and pathological appearance, and the appropriate treatment of these benign lesions of the spine are described.     

Your diagnosis? Aneurysmal bone cyst

The etiology of aneurysmal bone cysts is uncertain, but they may originate as a localized arteriovenous malformation. These benign lesions can be primary or occur secondary to an underlying lesion. The majority of patients who present with aneurysmal bone cysts are younger than age 20 years. One half of lesions occur within the long bones and one third involve the spine. Most flat bone lesions, approximately 10%, occur in the pelvis. Fluid-fluid levels are common on CT and MRI but are not pathognomonic. Although aneurysmal bone cyst is benign, there may be aggressive clinical and imaging features. Treatment for aneurysmal bone cyst is surgical curettage, intraoperative adjuvant therapy, and bone grafting of the lesion. The prognosis following treatment is very good, although 10% to 20% of cases are reported to recur.     

Interdisciplinary treatment strategy of aneurysmal bone cyst]

In this report the management of an aneurysmal bone cyst in the cervicothoracic region of an 13-year-old girl is described. Aneurysmal bone cyst is a histologically benign lesion that is often extremely vascular. In the spine, it can cause extensive bone destruction and compress neural structures and this can result in high-grade tetraparesis. In the treatment a three-stage operation with radical total removal of the cyst from two posterior approaches and one anterior approach for osteosynthetic stabilisation gave an excellent result. The value of preoperative embolization to reduce tumor vascularity, allowing total excision without neurological deficits to the patient, is demonstrated.     

Implantation metastasis in a 13-year-old girl: a case report

We report a case of a 13-year-old girl with an osteosarcoma of the right humerus, which had been diagnosed as an aneurysmal bone cyst at our institution. She underwent curettage and bone grafting of the lesion, which resulted in implantation metastasis of the tumour to the ilium. She died 15 months after presentation owing to pulmonary metastases. This report highlights the possibility of metastasis occurring by direct implantation to a graft donor site. We strongly recommend that a biopsy be performed in cases of presumed benign lesions before proceeding with the definitive surgery.     

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine with familial incidence

STUDY DESIGN: A report of two cases of aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine occurring in a father and daughter. OBJECTIVE: To present an unusual finding of familial incidence of aneurysmal bone cyst and review the literature. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Aneurysmal bone cysts are benign, expanding, locally aggressive lesions. Up to 20% of cases involve the spine. The cause of primary aneurysmal bone cysts remains unclear. There have been three previous reports of a familial incidence supporting the importance of a hereditary component in the cause of aneurysmal bone cysts. METHODS: A 36-year-old man and a 7-year-old girl were diagnosed with aneurysmal bone cyst involving the spine by clinical manifestations, radiographic features, and histologic evaluation. RESULTS: The father remains recurrence- and symptom-free 6 years after primary resection. Five months after surgery, the daughter was found to have recurrent disease by magnetic resonance imaging and underwent a second procedure within 1 year of the primary resection. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of a primary aneurysmal bone cyst in two family members, occurring at adjacent vertebral levels, is suggestive of a hereditary component to the formation of primary aneurysmal bone cyst.     

Solid Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Metacarpal Bone

Background: A solid aneurysmal bone cyst is a rare tumor-like lesion of bone. As conventional aneurysmal bone cyst it is a benign, although locally destructive lesion. While the aneurysmal bone cyst is characterized by cyst-like walls of predominantly fibrous tissue filled with free-floating blood, the solid variant shows essential findings identical to those seen in the walls of conventional aneurysmal bone cysts, except that the lesion almost completely lacks the blood-filled spaces and the cyst walls. Differential Diagnosis: Aneurysmal bone cysts and solid aneurysmal bone cysts may easily be mistaken for a malignant tumor, both radiologically and histologically, due to their great rate of growth, tremendous destruction of bone, and marked cellular exuberance in the early to mid phase of development. Case Study: A case of solid aneurysmal bone cyst of the fourth metacarpal is presented. In spite of the relatively unusual location it allows to clearly demonstrate both, the task of correct differential diagnosis and the surgical spectrum of therapy including local recurrence.     

Treatment of an aneurysmal bone cyst of the second metatarsal using an endoscopic approach.

An aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign solitary lesion of unknown etiology. A case report is presented of recurrence of an aneurysmal bone cyst in the foot that was treated with endoscopic curettage without bone grafting. Bone remodeling and bone formation were completed in the early stages postsurgically. At 2-year follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic with no radiographic evidence of recurrence.     

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the vertebra with paraplegia

Aneurysmal bone cyst, a benign lesion, is difficult to diagnose radiologically, particularly in the spine, but has a characteristic microscopic appearance. Treatment of spinal lesions consists of curettage, with or without bone grafting, together with irradiation at low doses (1000 to 2000 rads). The author reports a case of aneurysmal bone cyst of the neural arch associated with neurologic complication, which illustrates some typical features of such cysts of the spine. The condition should always be considered in patients with lytic lesions of the spine, and prompt surgical intervention is recommended.     

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the rib: a case report

An aneurysmal bone cyst involving the rib is very rare. Forty-four cases have been reported in the literature. Primary neoplasms of the ribs are uncommon and malignant tumours are significantly more common than benign tumours in this location. The condition is a rare benign, progressive bone tumour. The aetiology and natural history are unknown. The Authors report the case of a 38-year-old man with an aneurysmal bone cyst of the right 6th rib, treated by en-bloc resection. The patient has been followed up now for ten years with no signs of recurrence.     

Case Report: Primary Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Epiphysis

Aneurysmal bone cysts are benign active or aggressive bone tumors that commonly arise in the long bones, especially the femur, tibia, and humerus and the posterior elements of the spine. Aneurysmal bone cysts affect all age groups but are more common before skeletal maturity (first two decades of life). They usually involve the metaphysis or metadiaphyseal region of long bones. Although juxtaphyseal lesions abutting the growth plate and extending into the epiphysis have been described, there is no report of an aneurysmal bone cyst entirely and primarily located in the epiphysis. We report on a 3-year-old boy who presented with an entirely contained aneurysmal bone cyst to the proximal tibial epiphysis. We discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis, including imaging and pathology, and treatment. A review of the pertinent literature also is presented.     

Aneurysmal bone cyst of all humeral diaphysis (a case report)

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign osteolytic lesion usually occurring in the metaphysis of long bones. Authors report a case of a 21-year-old man with an expanding aneurysmal bone cyst in the entire humeral diaphysis and both metaphyses, discovered incidentally. Authors present the therapeutic difficulties encountered and discuss theepidemiology, diagnosis and management of ABCs.     

Aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine

Thirteen patients with aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine (excluding sacral lesions) were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment for aneurysmal bone cysts remains controversial, but surgical resection, irradiation, and embolization are common treatment modalities for those involving the spine. Of 102 patients with aneurysmal bone cysts, 15 had a lesion of the spine, including 2 sacral cases. Of the 13 patients with a lesion of the thoracic or lumbar spine, 9 underwent resection of the lesion, 2 curettage and cementation, and 2 only currettage. Eleven patients underwent segmental arthrodesis with instrumentation after treatment of the primary or recurrent lesion, while 2 patients underwent segmental arthrodesis using autogeneic bone. Nine patients did not develop a local recurrence after resection of the lesion. However, the 2 patients who underwent curettage alone developed local recurrences. None of 4 patients developed recurrences after curettage and cementation. After recurrence, 1 patient underwent additional resection with irradiation, and 1 patient underwent resection alone. At the final follow-up, all lesions were under control. In one patient, lumbar kyphosis developed after segmental arthrodesis with instrumentation, and arthrodesis was performed again. Radical resection of aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine with instrumentation is the optimal method of acquiring a high degree of local control and preventing spinal deformity. Received: 30 April 1998     

髓内高分化骨肉瘤

评价髓内高分化骨肉瘤的临床特点及组织学特征。方法：通过对与该肿瘤有关的文献回顾,归纳总结髓内高分化骨肉瘤的临床、影像和病理学特点,以及诊断、治疗要点和患者预后,结果：其发病年龄较典型骨肉瘤稍大,３０－４０岁多见;病损多位于长骨干骺端,特别是股骨和股骨;组织学有特征性。     

瘤椎全切与重建治疗胸腰椎肿瘤伴神经功能障碍

目的探讨瘤椎全切与重建,治疗胸腰椎肿瘤伴神经功能障碍的手术适应证及临床疗效。方法1999年1月～2005年12月收治胸腰椎肿瘤伴神经功能障碍16例。男10例,女6例;年龄16～62岁,平均31.5岁。原发肿瘤10例,其中骨巨细胞瘤4例,软骨肉瘤3例,动脉瘤样骨囊肿术后复发2例,骨肉瘤1例;转移瘤6例。肿瘤侵犯T53例,T6、T6、7、T9、T11、L2、L4及L5各1例,T8、L1及L3各2例。Tomita外科分型：4型9例,5型6例,6型1例。Frankel神经功能分级：A级1例,B级4例,C级7例,D级4例。采用前后路联合手术,行瘤椎彻底切除,椎管减压,植骨重建。术后根据肿瘤病理类型行相应的辅助治疗。结果术后16例获随访10～63个月,平均27.5个月。患者疼痛均完全缓解,术后神经功能恢复至D级5例（其中1例术前为A级）,E级11例。10例原发肿瘤中,1例骨肉瘤术后18个月双肺转移死亡,余9例均无瘤生存。6例转移瘤中,2例全身转移死亡,1例术后10个月肺部带瘤无症状生存,3例均无瘤生存。16例随访期内手术部位均无肿瘤复发。结论瘤椎全切与重建是治疗胸腰椎肿瘤伴神经功能障碍的一种安全有效的手术方法,可缓解疼痛,改善神经功能,减少肿瘤局部复发。手术适用于胸腰椎原发恶性肿瘤,有复发倾向的侵袭性肿瘤及Tomita外科分型为3～5型的胸腰椎单发转移瘤。     

Histology can be predictive of the clinical course of a primary aneurysmal bone cyst

Introduction  

Aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign lesion occurring in young patients which frequently recurs after treatment. Biopsy is mandatory for the diagnosis of a putative aneurysmal bone cyst as this lesion can be secondary to another underlying process including a malignant bone tumour. The histopathological features of aneurysmal bone cysts have been examined with the goal of finding relevant criteria for predicting favourable evolution or recurrence of the disease.     

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine. Case report

The aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a fast-growing tumor of undefined neoplastic nature. It is occasionally an aggressive benign lesion whose treatment of choice is a complete resection, even though the risk of profuse transoperative bleeding exists. We present a female patient with thoracic spine deformity, with progressive paresthesias and muscle weakness of lower extremities that evolved to paralysis of both lower extremities and sphincter incontinence. Based on radiographic films, lytic lesions were identified at T7 to T9 vertebrae as well as medullary space invasion. In electrophysiologic tests, a complete somatosensorial pathway block was reported. Prior to resection of the neoplastic lesion and thoracolumbar stabilization, an incisional biopsy was performed. There was no postoperative medullary functional improvement. Morphological findings corresponded to an aneurysmal bone cyst at T8. This lesion is mainly located in the long bones and less frequently of the spine, where instability and medullary compression may occur. It is possible to confuse this neoplasia with other lesions. Hence, definite diagnosis with biopsy is necessary for determining an adequate therapeutic plan to eradicate recurrence risk or associated neurologic sequelae, as well as to gain proper stability at the involved vertebral segments.     

Secondary aneurysmal bone cyst of the patella

Aneurysmal bone cyst accounts for 1% of primary bone tumors and is one of the benign tumor-like lesions. Patellar involvement is quite rare. Its development on the basis of any previous lesion such as chondroblastoma is called secondary aneurysmal bone cyst. A 26-year-old male patient presented with right knee pain of three-year history. Physical examination showed a firm, immobile swelling at the anterior aspect of the right knee, without increase in temperature or redness of the skin. There was no pain on palpation and joint range of motion was normal. Radiological studies were suggestive of an aneurysmal bone cyst. At surgery, the cystic lesion was removed via curettage and the residual cavity was filled with an autogenous bone graft taken from the iliac wing. The histopathologic diagnosis was secondary aneurysmal bone cyst in association with chondroblastoma. During a 1.5-year follow-up, the patient had no complaint and no recurrence was observed.