Aneurysmal bone cyst

  • Cystic expansile lesion
  • Often hemorrhagic
  • Vertebral appendages, flat bones
  • Metaphysis of long bones – femur, tibia, humerus
  • Secondary to bone tumors in 30% cases
Imaging
  • Plain film
    • Eccentrically without crossing growth plate
    • Frequently multilocular
    • Subtle cortical thinning
    • Destructive expansile lesion in vertebral appendages, encroaching spinal canal
    • D/D: telangiectatic osteosarcoma
  • MRI
    • Fluid-fluid levels due to hemorrhage
Read more

Beltran, Javier, et al. “Aneurysmal bone cysts: MR imaging at 1.5 T.” Radiology 158.3 (1986): 689-690.

Levy, Walter M., et al. “Aneurysmal bone cyst secondary to other osseous lesions: report of 57 cases.” American journal of clinical pathology 63.1 (1975): 1-8.