Aneurysmal Bone Cyst

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Aneurysmal Bone Cyst

• Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is an expansile lesion
  with blood-filled cystic cavities
• Usually ABCs are diagnosed before the fourth
  decade of life
• ABCs usually occur in long tubular bones (tibia
  or humerus most commonly) and the spine (the
  posterior elements of the vertebrae)

Lateral view of the scapula demonstrating an
expansile lytic lesion (arrow), proven to be an
ABC
Slide 1 of 2
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Aneurysmal Bone Cyst

• Additional imaging techniques can be helpful in
  the diagnosis. These include
• Computed tomography (CT) defining the extent of
  the lesion, including both intraosseous and
  extraosseous components (arrow, right)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fluid-fluid
  levels are characteristically identified
• Bone scan increased uptake in the periphery and
  a photopenic area centrally

Axial CT scan through the scapula
demonstrating the expansile lucent ABC, breaking
through the cortex posteriorly, into the soft
tissues (arrow)
Slide 2 of 2