Percutaneous Ethibloc injection in aneurysmal bone cysts

Objective. To investigate whether the injection of Ethibloc into aneurysmal bone cysts can be an effective treatment modality. Design and patients.Ethibloc is an alcoholic solution of zein (corn protein) which has thrombogenic and fibrogenic properties. Ten patients with aneurysmal bone cysts were treated with CT-guided percutaneous injection of Ethibloc into the cyst cavity. Ethibloc injection was the primary treatment in five patients. Four patients had recurrence following previous curettage and bone grafting and one patient had not responded to injection into the lesion of autologous iliac crest bone marrow aspirate. Three patients needed a second injection. The median follow-up was 27 (6–60) months. Results and conclusion.Symptoms were relieved in all patients. At imaging, seven patients had resolution of the lesion and three had partial response at the most recent follow-up. Complications consisted of a local transitory inflammatory reaction in two patients and an aseptic abscess in one patient. This relatively simple, minimally invasive procedure makes an operation unnecessary by stopping the expansion of the cyst and inducing endosteal new bone formation. This technique may be used as the primary management of aneurysmal bone cysts excluding spinal lesions. Received: 19 July 1999 Revision requested: 20 September 1999 Revision received: 9 November 1999 Accepted: 6 December 1999