Cervical Spine Aneurysmal Bone Cysts: A Meta-Analysis of 114 Cases and Comparison of Clinical Features between Pediatric and Adult Patients

Abstract

Aneurysmal bone cysts have an unclear etiology and are most common during childhood. To our knowledge, a comprehensive review comparing adult and childhood aneurysmal bone cysts has, to date, not been performed. Using standard search engines, a review of aneurysmal bone cysts was conducted. Many differences were found comparing adult and pediatric ABC patients. For example, females were much more commonly affected than males in children and tumors were commonly idiopathic however, they were found after cervical spine trauma in children. Pediatric patients are significantly more likely to be affected by ABC than adults. The incidence of primary tumors is much higher than that of secondary tumors in both adults and children but there is no significant difference between the two groups. Radicular pain is more significantly associated with children with cervical ABC. Pediatric patients are at a significantly higher risk for tumor reoccurrence and suffer from more postoperative symptoms. Spine Scholar 1:21-29, 2017.