Clinical pathological analysis of nine cases of aneurysmal bone cyst of the jaws in a Brazilian population.

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign osteolytic lesions that occur rarely in the jaws. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical, radiographical and pathological features of ABCs of the jaws. A retrospective analysis of the content of a 39-year database, including nine cases of ABCs of the jaws diagnosed from the archives of the Oral Pathology Service. Nine patients (3 males and 6 females), ranging in age from 5 to 33 years were included. Seven (7/9) lesions were located in the mandible and two (2/9) in the maxilla. A painful swelling was the most common clinical finding (n = 4, 4/9). Radiologically, the lesions frequently presented as multilocular (5/9), well defined (4/9), bone expansion and perforation (2/9). Pathological analysis revealed that two cases were associated with central ossifying fibroma and one case with central giant cell lesion. Histomorphology showed a predominance of the solid type (5/9) and of sinusoidal pseudocystic spaces (4/9). Giant cells, osteoid material, calcified material, blood vessels and hemosiderin deposits were observed in 6/9, 7/9, 8/9, 9/9 and 7/9, respectively. The patients with ABCs presented clinical and radiographical features, which often posed a diagnostic dilemma. Knowledge about the most common characteristics of ABCs may contribute to the establishment of a more accurate diagnosis.