Vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by cervical aneurysmal bone cyst - case report

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are benign bone tumors of relatively rare occurrence. Most of the lesions occur at long bones, vertebrae and flat bones. However, the cervical vertebrae involvement is uncommon. Occasionally, the ABCs compress the spinal cord and nerve roots. Depending on the level of involvement and the extent of spinal cord compression, a wide variety of neurological symptoms and signs may be noted later, ranging from mild radiculopathy to complete paraplegia or tetraplegia. A case of aneurysmal bone cyst involving the second and third cervical vertebrae in a 15 years old patient, causing compression of the right vertebral artery and subsequent vertebrobasilar insufficiency is reported. We also discuss the clinical manifestations of the vertebrobasilar insufficiency, of the spinal compression, and the surgery treatment performed in this case. Cistos osseos aneurismaticos sao tumores osseos benignos de ocorrencia relativamente rara. A maior parte dessas lesoes ocorre em ossos longos, nas vertebras e nos ossos planos. No entanto, o envolvimento das vertebras cervicais e incomum. Ocasionalmente, o cisto osseo aneurismatico pode comprimir a medula espinhal e as raizes nervosas. Dependendo do grau de envolvimento e extensao da compressao da medula espinhal, uma ampla variedade de sintomas e sinais neurologicos pode ser observada posteriormente, variando de radiculopatia suave a completa paraplegia ou tetraplegia. Relatamos um caso de cisto osseo aneurismatico envolvendo a segunda e a terceira vertebra cervical em um paciente de 15 anos, causando compressao da arteria vertebral direita e consequente insuficiencia vertebrobasilar. Tambem discutimos as manifestacoes clinicas da insuficiencia vertebrobasilar e da compressao espinhal e o tratamento cirurgico realizado no caso em questao.