The ABCs of Aneurysmal Bone Cysts: Is there a Role for Radiation Therapy?

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a rare osteolytic lesion which, though benign, can have devastating effects on the patient’s function and cosmesis. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment; however, for incompletely resected, inoperable, or recurrent ABCs, radiation therapy has been posited to be a feasible therapeutic modality. However, evidence on the possible role of radiation therapy in the management of ABCs remains in its infancy. This short review discusses what is currently known about the pathophysiology, natural history, epidemiology, and clinical presentation of ABCs. This will ultimately lead to a survey of the present literature on radiation therapy as used for ABCs.