Surgical Management of Giant Cervico-Dorsal Aneurysmal Bone Cyst: Case Report with Literature-Review

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are benign, vascular, osseous lesions accounting for 1% of all bony tumors. Giant cervicodorsal ABC are rare. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Incomplete excision has a high chance of recurrence. Giant lesions of the spinal column require staged surgeries and circumferential instrumentation to avoid instability. An 18-year-old male presenting with acute onset paraplegia and urinary incontinence with features of myelopathy. On evaluation, he was diagnosed with multi-level giant ABC of the cervico-dorsal spine. He underwent tumor excision and instrumentation via staged surgery. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was planned for adjuvant therapy but lost to follow up. He developed torrential bleeding from the tracheostomy site and expired. Management of giant ABC poses a challenge to the neurosurgeon. Multidisciplinary approach is mandatory for successful management of these patients. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Complete excision is achievable using staged excision.