Soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst: a rare case in a middle aged patient

Abstract

Soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst is a rare entity, with about 20 cases reported in literature, only 3 of which are in patients over 40 years of age.  We present a case of a 41 year old Latin American female who presented for evaluation of atraumatic chest pain with radiation to the left shoulder.  Her initial workup was negative, including radiographic imaging of the chest and left shoulder.  4 months later, she presented to her orthopedic surgeon with a palpable mass and mild left shoulder pain.  Radiographs acquired at that time demonstrated a 7.0 x 5.5 x 6.7 cm mass with rim calcification in the region of the upper triceps muscle.  Subsequent CT imaging showed central areas of hypodensity and thin septations, a few of which were calcified.  MR evaluation showed hemorrhagic cystic spaces with multiple fluid-fluid levels and enhancing septations.  Surgical biopsy was performed and pathology was preliminarily interpreted as cystic myositis ossificans, however on final review the diagnosis of soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst was made.  The lesion was then surgically excised and no evidence of recurrence was seen on a 3 year post-op radiograph.  Following description of our case, we conduct a literature review of the imaging characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst.