title: Treatments for primary aneurysmal bone cysts of the cervical spine: experience of 14 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign lesion with the potential to be locally aggressive. The optimal treatment of cervical spine lesions remains controversial. This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the different treatments for primary ABCs of the cervical spine.
  
  
  METHODS
  This series included eight men and six women diagnosed between 2002 and 2012. A retrospective review of the hospital charts, operating room reports, office charts, and radiographs was performed. The data collected included patient age, sex, radiological features, pathology, treatment methods, outcomes, and complications from biopsies and treatments. The mean age at diagnosis was 17.5 years old with a range of 6-35 years. All patients had experienced local pain for a mean of 7.3 months (range, 0.5-18.0 months), and three patients had neurological deficits (one with radiculopathy and two with myelopathy). The Frankel classification before treatment was E in 12 cases, D in one case, and C in one case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients received radiotherapy alone. Ten patients underwent surgery, including five total spondylectomies, two local resections, and three curettages. Three patients received preoperative selective arterial embolization, and four received adjuvant radiotherapy. The mean follow-up time was 44.5 months (range 12-96 months), and no recurrence was identified. Three patients with neurological deficits achieved complete recovery, as noted at the final follow-up examination. One patient received radiotherapy without appropriate immobilization as prescribed and developed C1-C2 subluxation with severe spinal cord compression but without myelopathy. He refused further treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results can be achieved by different treatments (surgical resection/curettage, selective arterial embolization, and radiotherapy) for ABC of the cervical spine. Reconstruction of stability is also important for the treatment of cervical ABC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266000, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Shaomin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Fengliang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China. Email: zjliu@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhongjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017824:Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / Q000628:therapy*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult