Aneurysmal bone cysts of the jaws: analysis of 17 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign osteolytic lesions that occur relatively rarely in the jaws. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical and radiographic characteristics, pathologic features, and treatment results of ABCs of the jaws (JABCs).


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of a 20-year database, including 17 cases of JABC, was performed.


RESULTS
A total of 17 patients, 9 males and 8 females, aged 7 to 47 years (mean 20.4, median 14), were included. Of the 17 lesions, 15 (88.2%) were located in the mandible and 2 (11.8%) in the maxilla. A painless (12 of 17, 70.6%) or painful (3 of 17, 17.6%) swelling was the most common clinical finding. The pathologic analyses revealed that 13 JABCs (76.5%) were secondary in nature, including 11 cases associated with ossifying fibroma. Radiologically, the lesions frequently presented as multilocular (58.8%), well-defined (70.6%) radiolucencies (82.4%). Two lesions (11.8%) recurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that most JABCs are secondary in nature and frequently associated with ossifying fibroma. The patients with JABCs presented with various clinical and radiographic features and therefore often posed a diagnostic dilemma. Resection is the preferred treatment of JABCs.
Sun
Zhi-Jun
ZJ
Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering, Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. zhijundejia@yahoo.com.cn
Zhao
Yi-Fang
YF
Yang
Rui-Li
RL
Zwahlen
Roger A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017824:Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D018214:Fibroma, Ossifying / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult