Paediatric aneurysmal bone cysts of the head and neck
B G Fennessy1, S O Vargas, M V Silvera
1Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. brendanfennessy@yahoo.com
Objective:
To provide an up to date review of the literature on aneurysmal bone cysts, including their diagnosis, pathology, pathophysiology, radiology and management.
Method:
Retrospective review of six cases over a 15-year period.
Results:
Six patients (age range, eight months to 17 years; mean, 9.6 years) presented with an aneurysmal bone cyst in the mandible (n = 3), maxilla (n = 2) or occipital soft tissue (n = 1). Each patient underwent primary excision, with one subsequent recurrence.
Conclusion:
Aneurysmal bone cysts are benign but locally destructive entities which may occasionally present to otolaryngologists, since they can involve the head and neck region, in particular the mandible.
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