title: [Inclusion bone cyst in the distal phalanx. Report of three cases].
abstract: Inclusion bone cysts are cysts of an epidermal lineage containing keratin. They are commonly found in the subcutaneous tissue, occasionally in intratendinous, subungueal or intraosseous tissue. The diagnosis is usually clinical. The most frequent symptom is pain, which may be associated with ungueal deformity. Plain X-rays in two views allow identifying the bone location. The treatment recommended for all cases of epidermoid cyst of the distal phalanx is curettage of the lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical charts of patients with inclusion cysts of the distal phalanx from 1983 to 2010 were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three cases were found; 2 males and one female, ages 23, 28 and 47 years. The most frequent symptom was pain with ungueal deformity in 2 cases. In 2 cases the X-rays show the characteristics of the epidermoid cyst. Curettage was performed in the 3 cases; a bone graft was used in 2 cases. The follow-up ranged between 120 and 324 months (mean of 222 months). No relapses or complications were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inclusion bone cysts are infrequent tumors of the distal phalanx and have particular characteristics that the orthopedist surgeon should be familiar with.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Ortopedia del Centro Médico ABC. fernandezvazquez@yahoo.com
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fernández-Vázquez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camacho-Galindo
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ayala-Gamboa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult