Diagnosis and treatment of unicameral and aneurysmal bone cysts in children

Bone cysts are commonly encountered clinical problems in the pediatric age group. The most common types of cysts are the unicameral and aneurysmal bone cysts. These benign lesions vary in their aggressiveness, clinical behavior and treatment. Both of these lesions are poorly understood in terms of their etiology, but effective treatment exists. These lesions represent a source of great consternation to both clinicians and families, for they weaken the bone and may be confused with malignant lesions. This review will focus on the two most commonly encountered cystic lesions in the pediatric population.