[A case of aneurysmal cyst of the spine. Pathogenic and therapeutic problems]

The diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cyst is facilitated by modern methods and progress in surgical technique allows their excision. A cyst of the spine was found in a 23 year old woman. It was the size of a grapefruit at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra. It was asymptomatic and discovered after routine radiological examination. It was removed by a thoraco-abdominal approach to avoid neurological impairment. The spine was fixed by internal fixation and grafted. The condition of the patient was satisfactory after 9 months. A review of the literature reveals the frequency of neurological complications and of recurrence. This justified the planned removal of the tumour despite the possibility of a spontaneous healing. Radiotherapy should be considered only in cases where total excision and fixation is not possible.