Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model
08:03

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model

Published on: November 4, 2025

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

The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|September 3, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign, locally destructive lesions. This review covers their diagnosis, pathology, radiology, and management, with a focus on head and neck presentations.

Area of Science:

  • Pathology
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare, benign, expansile bone lesions characterized by blood-filled cystic spaces.
  • While uncommon, ABCs can occur in the head and neck region, presenting diagnostic and management challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present an updated review of the literature concerning aneurysmal bone cysts.
  • To detail the diagnosis, pathology, pathophysiology, radiology, and management of ABCs.
  • To highlight the relevance of ABCs to otolaryngology, particularly in the mandible.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of six cases of aneurysmal bone cysts.
  • Cases were collected over a 15-year period.
  • The review encompasses diagnosis, pathology, radiology, and management strategies.

Main Results:

  • Six patients, aged 8 months to 17 years (mean 9.6 years), were identified.
  • Lesions occurred in the mandible (n=3), maxilla (n=2), and occipital soft tissue (n=1).
  • All patients underwent primary excision; one experienced a recurrence.

Conclusions:

  • Aneurysmal bone cysts are benign yet locally destructive lesions.
  • Their potential involvement of the head and neck, especially the mandible, makes them relevant to otolaryngologists.
  • Effective management typically involves surgical excision, with recurrence being a possibility.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy and Pineal Biopsy from a Single Entry Point03:13

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy and Pineal Biopsy from a Single Entry Point

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Sutures of the Skull01:22

Sutures of the Skull

The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Overview of the Axial Skeleton01:09

Overview of the Axial Skeleton

The skeleton is subdivided into two major divisions—the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central axis of the body. It includes all of the bones of the head, neck, chest, and back. It protects the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. It also serves as the attachment site for muscles that move the head, neck, and back and for muscles that act across the shoulder and hip joints to move their corresponding limbs.
The axial skeleton of the adult...
Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...
Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View01:14

Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View

The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
Arteries of the Head and Neck01:26

Arteries of the Head and Neck

The human body's intricate network of arteries ensures that every organ system receives the necessary oxygen and nutrients for optimal function. The arterial network in the head and neck region is particularly complex, providing vital blood flow to the brain, eyes, and other critical structures. Prominent arteries in this region include the internal carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries.
The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the anterior portion of the cerebrum. They enter the...
Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification01:29

Bone Formation by Intramembranous Ossification

Intramembranous ossification is one of the two processes involved in the development of bones within an embryo. The flat bones of the face, most of the cranial bones, and the clavicles are formed via this process. During intramembranous ossification, the bones develop directly from sheets of undifferentiated mesenchymal connective tissue.
The process begins when mesenchymal cells in the embryonic skeleton gather together and differentiate into osteogenic cells, which then develop into...