[Aneurysmal bone cyst of the 3th cervical vertebra: a case report and review of the literature].

Aneurysmal bone cysts of the cervical spine are rare. They account for 15% of all primitive tumors of the spine. The authors report the case of a 43-year-old man with an aneurysmal bone cyst in the body of the 3th cervical vertebra. The patient presented with an intractable pain in the neck. No neurological deficit was found at examination. The X-ray spondilography, CT scan and MRI demonstrated characteristic signs of aneurysmal bone cyst. An anterior approach with curettage of the cyst, autologous grafting and metallic plate osteosynthesis was performed. A total pain relief was accomplished after surgery. The findings were compared with reports in the literature.