title: Vertebral aneurysmal bone cyst. A case report and review.
abstract: The case of a 16-year-old boy with an aneurysmal bone cyst of the fourth lumbar vertebra and a herniated nucleus pulposus of the L4-5 disc is presented. Symptoms included progressive lower back pain and bilateral lower extremity weakness. Roentgenographic studies were consistent with a vertebral aneurysmal bone cyst with an expansile lesion that compromised the neural canal and an L4-5 herniated nucleus pulposus. Surgical treatment included tumor excision, L4-5 discectomy, lumbar decompression, and posterolateral and anterior lumbar fusion. Postoperatively, the lower back pain and lower extremity symptoms resolved. The patient continues to do well at 1-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Brinker
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Whitecloud
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Antwine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013123:Spinal Fusion