Solid aneurysmal bone cyst of cuboid: rare location and diagnostic conundrum

Abstract

The solid variant of aneurysmal bone cyst is an expansile cystic lesion involving long tubular bones with unknown aetiology and usually occurs in the second decade of life. This is a paradigm of fibrocystic lesions. We report the rare case of a male with a biopsy-proven solid variant aneurysmal bone cyst of the cuboid that was mistakenly diagnosed as osteomyelitis. He presented with clinical features suggestive of infective aetiology in the cuboid and was planned for debridement as the radiological investigations were also in agreement. Intraoperatively, the absence of pus and the gross appearance of cuboid raised suspicion and the tissue sampled for biopsy revealed a solid variant of aneurysmal bone cyst. The patient was managed with thorough curettage and antibiotic-filled calcium granule augmentation. The patient returned to his normal functional level without evidence of any recurrence.

Keywords: Bone and joint infections; Orthopaedic and trauma surgery; Orthopaedics; Pathology.