Aneurysmal bone cyst: a primary or secondary lesion?
OBJECTIVE
To emphasize the origin of aneurysmal bone cyst as "primary" or "secondary" to other lesions of the jaws and 2. Report two cases of the cyst that illustrate its controversial origin in the hope that it will add to the literature on the subject in Africa.


METHODS
Two cases of aneurysmal bone cyst occurring in the mandible and maxilla are reported. One of the cysts that occurred in a 13-year-old was a primary lesion while the other in a 5-year-old was associated with a cementifying fibroma.


METHODS
The diagnoses of both lesions were confirmed by biopsy. The lesion that occurred in the 13-year-old was treated by curettage while the other in the 5-year-old was treated by excision under general anaesthesia respectively.


RESULTS
While the lesion in the 13-year-old was haemorrhagic with 'welling up' of blood, the second lesion though haemorrhagic was not associated with this phenomenon. Both patients were transfused with 2 pints and 1 pint of blood respectively. There has not been recurrence of the lesions after two years post operatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Aneurysmal bone cyst can arise as a primary lesion or associated with a fibro-osseous lesion as demonstrated by these two cases. There is a need to serially section biopsy specimens of the cyst to detect coexisting lesions.
Saheeb
B D O
BD
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. dauda2000@yahoo.com
Ojo
M A
MA
Obuekwe
O N
ON
D000293:Adolescent; D017824:Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005350:Fibroma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography