[Clinical introduction to aneurysmatic bone cysts].

The aneurysmal bone cyst is according to the description of Jaffe and Lichtenstein (1942) a histomorphological entity. It is a benign centric or eccentrically localized tumor like lesion with preference to the metaphysis. 75% of all aneurysmal bone cysts occur within the first two decades of life. On x-ray the diagnosis is not always clear. In differential diagnosis juvenile bone cyst, giant cell tumor, chondroblastoma, chondromyxoid fibroma, non ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia and telangiectasic osteogenic sarcoma have to be considered. Final diagnosis requires histological evaluation. Curettage or resection with bone grafting is the predominant therapeutic procedure. Radiotherapy might cause malignant degradation and should only be used in elected cases. For propaedeutic evaluations of aneurysmal bone cysts 851 cases in world literature are reported.