Aneurysmal bone cyst of the rib: report of a case.

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are rare, especially in the ribs. This lesion is considered to be a benign process, which is usually found in children and young adults. This case, however, concerns a 71-year-old patient, the oldest patient hitherto reported in Japan, and also as old as in any other published case report worldwide. Although positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrated an uptake at the lesion, two biopsies could not reveal a precise preoperative diagnosis. The clinical manifestations, etiology, pathology, and current treatment are briefly discussed. Due to difficulties in the preoperative diagnosis, and to avoid recurrence, a total excision is the recommended treatment for ABC.