Endoscope-assisted enucleation and guided bone regeneration of a recurrent aneurysmal bone cyst in the mandibular condyle

Abstract

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a locally destructive, expansive, benign bone disease which most commonly occurs in the metaphyseal region of the long bones of children and adolescents, only 1% to 3% of ABCs have been described in the jaws. The aim of this study was to explore the minimal invasive surgical technique of treating ABC occurring in the mandibular condyle. Here we present a 10-year-old girl with recurrent ABC in her left condyle and adjacent ramus. She was treated by curettage via an extraoral endoscopic-assisted surgical approach and guided bone regeneration. The patient had an uneventful postoperative period with no injury to the facial nerves and minimal scarring. No recurrence was found in 4 years (from 2011). Computed tomography (CT) showed bone formation and remodeling of the condyle and ramus. Endoscopic-assisted curettage combined with guided bone regeneration can achieve an ideal effect in the treatment of ABC of the mandibular condyle and ramus.