title: Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Cervical Spine in Children: A Review and a Focus on Available Treatment Options.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a series of pediatric cervical spine (CS) aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC), to review the literature, and to propose a treatment algorithm.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a series of 4 cases of ABC and review the literature using PubMed, EMBASE, and Google scholar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 51 cases are documented. The mean age at diagnosis is 11.5 years, and there is a small female predominance (F:M ratio=1.6). Most of ABC occurs in the upper CS (41%), are located in the posterior component (75%), and extends in 40% of the vertebral body. A single treatment modality was used in 56.9%, whereas combination of surgery with other treatment modalities was used in the rest. Of the total number of cases, 56.8% were managed with marginal resection, and instrumentation was used in 80%. Mean follow-up was 72.5 months, with the majority of patients disease free. Pain is the most common symptom present at the latest follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ABC of the spine is a pediatric tumor occurring rarely in the CS. Treatment options vary from simple curettage to total resection with or without instrumentation. Recurrence after surgery is highest after curettage alone. The main indications for surgery are rapid progression, despite intracystic injection, and/or the presence of neurological signs or symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Orthopedic Surgery §Neurosurgery, Hotel Dieu de France University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon †Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, CHU Caen, Caen ‡AH-HP, Service d'Orthopédie et Traumatologie pédiatrique, hôpital Necker-enfants malades, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Amer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sebaaly
authors.forename: Bachir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ghostine
authors.forename: Gaby
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kreichati
authors.forename: Jean F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mallet
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glorion
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kharrat
authors.forename: Ismat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ghanem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017824:Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed