bubble_chart Overview

A bone cyst is a benign sexually transmitted disease, also known as a simple bone cyst or solitary bone cyst. The disease cause remains unclear. Some scholars believe that bone cysts result from the obstruction of blood vessels within the bone, leading to blood stasis. Others suggest that the condition arises from degenerative changes in certain tumor or inflammatory tissues, disruptions in growth and metabolism, or abnormalities in bone development. There is also a theory that trauma-induced bleeding may form a localized capsule, which is later absorbed and ossified. Smaller bone cysts may disappear due to callus formation after a fracture, while larger cysts may shrink. Occasionally, they may resolve due to hematoma ossification. Generally, bone cysts require surgical treatment, which is best performed after epiphyseal fusion to reduce the chance of recurrence. Bone cysts may rarely undergo malignant transformation into fleshy tumor. They very rarely occur in the cervical spine. This condition most commonly affects the ends of long tubular bones, predominantly in adolescents around 20 years of age, with males being more frequently affected than females.

bubble_chart Pathological Changes

During the procedure, the cyst was found to be filled with clear yellow fluid, occasionally appearing reddish-brown or bloody due to hemorrhage. The cyst wall consisted of thin, grayish-white or yellow fibrous tissue, with numerous bony ridges extending into the cystic cavity. Microscopic examination revealed abundant fibrous tissue containing osteoid or osseous tissue, along with scattered multinucleated giant cells.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

The general clinical symptoms of patients are relatively mild, with only local discomfort and dull pain. Most patients are discovered incidentally during imaging for trauma. Those with cervical vertebral bone cysts may present with neurological or spinal cord stimulation symptoms.

X-ray findings: The characteristic features of this condition include a high translucency in the affected area, mild expansion, smooth cyst walls, clear boundaries, and no periosteal reaction. If a fracture occurs, the typical changes may disappear, and the vertebral body may exhibit a compression fracture.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

Adolescents experiencing cervical discomfort after trauma should be taken seriously and undergo X-ray examination. If a cyst with high radiolucency, mild expansion, and no periosteal reaction is found, the possibility of this condition should be considered. However, before diagnosing this disease, it is necessary to differentiate it from giant cell tumor of bone, fibrous dysplasia, eosinophilic granuloma, and aneurysmal bone cyst.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

The primary treatment for this condition is surgical intervention. For cysts located in the vertebral arch appendages, simple surgical excision is sufficient; if the cyst is situated in the vertebral body, in addition to lesion removal, bone grafting and fusion should be performed.