aneurysmal bone cyst: an analysis of 38 cases and report of four unusual surface ones

aneurysmal bone cyst (abc) is a benign expansile bone tumor, most commonly involving the medulla of long bones. abc rarely arises within the cortex or in the subperiosteal region, radiographically mimicking other conditions, in particular surface osteosarcomathat is low-grade in nature and may go secondary abc changes, and telangiectatic osteosarcoma. both of these are sometimes mistaken microscopically for primary abc. we review the characteristics of abc cases in our center and report four unusualsurface abcs arising in the subperiosteal or cortical region of long bones, identified among 38 histologically proven abcs during a four-year period in our center. the surface abcs occurred at an older agewith a predilection for diaphysis of femur, tibia, and humerus.