[Aneurysmal bone cyst of the frontal bone]

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign, osteolytic bone lesion, typically affecting younger individuals.
• While ABC commonly affects long bones and the spine, its occurrence in the skull is exceptionally rare.
• The etiology of ABC remains debated, with theories including secondary reactive lesions or primary bone disease, and blunt head trauma as a potential factor.

Observation:

• This report details a rare case of a primary aneurysmal bone cyst in the frontal bone of a 19-year-old male.
• The patient underwent a complete surgical excision of the lesion via frontal craniotomy.
• The resulting cranial defect was reconstructed using acrilate cranioplasty.

Findings:

• The clinical and neuroradiological presentation of skull ABCs is often non-specific, necessitating histopathological confirmation.
• Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cyst.
• Surgical excision was the definitive treatment, achieving complete removal of the lesion.

Implications:

• Complete surgical excision appears to be the treatment of choice for primary aneurysmal bone cysts of the skull.
• The successful outcome in this case, with no recurrence at 5 years post-surgery, supports the efficacy of this approach.
• This case contributes to the understanding of managing rare cranial bone pathologies.