Fronto-parietal osteoblastoma with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst: a case report

Osteoblastomas and aneurysmal bone cysts each comprise 1% of primary bone tumours. As both osteoblastomas and aneurysmal bone cysts are not common, osteoblastomas with secondary aneurysmal bone cysts of calvaria are extremely rare. Only three cases describing a secondary aneurysmal bone cyst in the setting of a calvarial osteoblastoma can be found in the literature. We report the case of the surgical resection of the fronto-parietal osteoblastoma accompanying a secondary aneurysmal bone cyst.

The case is a 24-year-old male with a 2-year history of a painless lump in the hair-bearing region of the left fronto-parietal area without neurologic symptoms. Computed tomography showed an intradiploic tumour with maintained inner and outer cortex of the left front-parietal bones. 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-circumscribed, intradiploic, multilocular cystic tumour. A gadolinium-enhanced sequence showed strong peripheral and septal enhancement. These findings were consistent with an osteoblastoma associated with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst. An en bloc tumour resection with a 10-mm horizontal margin was completed without complications. The calvarial defect was covered by calvarial bone graft harvested from the contralateral fronto-parietal bone. The postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological diagnosis was consistent with the osteoblastoma with secondary aneurysmal bone cyst. After a follow-up period of 2 years, there was no evidence of recurrence.

The combination of osteoblastoma and aneurysmal bone cyst of the calvaria is a rare clinical entity. Careful preoperative examination and complete resection of the tumour are essential.