Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) : treatment options and proposal of a follow-up regime


Published online: Sep 27 2016

Oliver HAUSCHILD, Martin LÜDEMANN, Monika ENGELHARDT, Daniel BAUMHOER, Tobias BAUMANN, Tania ELGER, Norbert P. SÜDKAMP, Georg W. HERGET

From the Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre, Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe treatment options and develop a follow-up regime for the aneurysmal bone cyst, a neoplastic bone lesion with a noticeable recurrence rate. Reports of 28 patients and a mean follow-up of 42.2 months treated multidisciplinary were analysed. Data were complemented by a literature review including 790 patients. Patient age was from seven to 57 years, in line with the literature (1-69 years). Lesions most frequently affect long bones, spine and pelvis ; pain is the most common symptom. Treatment modalities vary, recurrences occurred in 26.1% in our series, rates ranged from 0-60% in the literature, with the vast majority within 2 years. With regard to the findings we propose, irrespective of treatment, a follow-up regime including clinical survey and imaging, best with MRI, at 3 months, 6 months and at half-yearly intervals within the first two and yearly within the third to fifth year.