Recurrent aneurysmal bone cyst of the cervical spine in childhood treated with doxycycline injection

Single dose intralesional doxycycline foam infusion promotes bone growth and resolution of an odontoid aneurysmal bone cyst

Background

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are locally invasive bone tumors that most commonly arise in long bone metaphyses, the vertebral column, and pelvis, often presenting in the second decade of life. ABCs can be treated with resection, radiation, arterial embolization, and intralesional curettage. More recently intralesional doxycycline foam injections, which appear to act through the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and angiogenesis, have been used successfully, although multiple treatments are often required with this approach.

Case Description

A 13-year-old male with an incidentally discovered ABC filling much of the odontoid process but not violating the native odontoid cortex was treated with a single intralesional doxycycline foam injection delivered through a transoral approach with an excellent radiographic result. After placing a Crowe-Davis retractor, a transoral exposure of the odontoid process was performed with neuronavigation guidance. A fluoroscopy-guided Jamshidi needle biopsy was performed and via the needle doxycycline foam (2 mL 50 mg/mL doxycycline, 2 mL 25% albumin, and 1 mL Isovue 370 mixed with 5 mL of air) was infused, filling the cystic cavities of the odontoid process. The patient tolerated the operation well. Two months postoperatively, a computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a decrease in the size of the lesion with substantial new bone formation. Repeat CT at 6 months showed no residual cystic lucency, formation of dense new bone, and only minimal irregularity of the cortex at the prior needle biopsy site.

Conclusion

This case illustrates that the use of doxycycline foam can be an excellent option when managing ABCs that cannot be resected without incurring significant morbidity.

Aneurysmal bone cyst of thoracic spine with neurological deficit and its recurrence treated with multimodal intervention - A case report

Background:

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare, representing about 1% of primary bone tumors, and 15% of all primary spine/sacral tumors. Notably, when they are located in poorly accessible regions such as the spine and pelvis, their management may be challenging. Treatment options include selective arterial embolization (SAE), curettage, en bloc excision with reconstruction, and radiotherapy.

Case Description:

A 16-year-old male presented with 2 months of mid back pain, left-sided thoracic radiculopathy, and left lower limb weakness (MRC – 3/5). MR imaging revealed an expansile, lytic lesion involving the T9 vertebral body, and the left-sided posterior elements resulting in cord compression. He underwent SAE followed by intralesional excision, bone grafting, and a cage – instrumented fusion. ABC was diagnosed from the biopsy sample. Postoperatively, the pain was reduced, and he was neurologically intact. Five months later, he presented with a new lesion that was treated with repeated SAE and three doses of zoledronic acid. At the end of 2 years, the subsequent, MRI and CT studies documented new bone formation in the lytic areas, with healing of lesion; additionally, he clinically demonstrated sustained pain relief.

Conclusion:

Here, we emphasized the importance of surgery for patients with ABC who develop focal neurological deficits. Treatment options should include SAE with bisphosphonate therapy for lesions that recur without neurological involvement.

An aneurysmal bone cyst at T1 treated with bone grafts containing calcitonin and methylprednisolone

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) rarely trigger pathological fractures. Various surgical and nonsurgical treatments have been reported for this condition. Herein, we present the examination findings and treatment for a 15-year-old girl who initially presented with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and mild back pain, but subsequently experienced severe back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ABC at T1, with an associated pathological fracture. We successfully treated the patient using posterior fixation with instrumentation, curettage, and bone grafts combined with calcitonin and methylprednisolone (mPSL). At 3 years post-surgery, there was no ABC recurrence and only mild back pain persisted. To our knowledge, this is the first report of open surgery (curettage and fixation) with local intralesional administration of calcitonin and mPSL for an ABC-induced pathological spinal fracture. We believe that this treatment is an effective option for ABCs associated with a pathological spinal fracture.

Multidisciplinary management of spinal aneurysmal bone cysts: A single-center experience

OBJECTIVE

The management of spinal aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) is complex and often requires multimodality therapy, including surgical intervention to stabilize the axial skeleton, and avoid neurologic injury or death. With en bloc resection, ABCs have a recurrence rate of 12%, which increases to >50% with subtotal resection. The use of doxycycline sclerotherapy has been reported to reduce the recurrence rate of non-spinal ABCs to 5% at >24 month follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed our institutional results for sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS)/doxycycline sclerotherapy and surgical intervention for spinal ABCs, to assess our treatment paradigm for these tumors and inform our future approach to these lesions.

METHODS

Three cervical, two thoracic and two lumbar spine ABCs were treated in seven patients with spine-exclusive disease at our institution from 2011 to the present. The most common presenting complaint was pain. Each patient was retrospectively reviewed for clinical symptomology, number of treatments, technique and clinical follow-up. Qualitative assessment of improvement was based on the most recent clinical evaluation.

RESULTS

The cohort underwent a mean of three treatment sessions (range 2-15). All were treated with STS and/or doxycycline. Five patients underwent surgical intervention at some point, either before or following sclerotherapy. After the last sclerotherapy session, four patients reported stable or improved pain symptoms, while two reported progressive pain that required surgical intervention for that indication. One patient, who underwent both multiple rounds of sclerotherapy and surgical resection, died due to acute on chronic cervical spine collapse with cord compression and inability to control disease.

CONCLUSION

We report our experience in the treatment of spinal column ABCs. Stabilization or improvement in pain was seen in four patients, while the remainder had progressive disease. Our multidisciplinary approach allows patients to receive the most appropriate treatment at presentation and thereafter, for symptom amelioration or spinal stability. Important future goals are to quantitatively assess changes in symptoms over time and to incorporate a reproducible radiographic endpoint for the assessment of treatment efficacy.

Aneurysmal bone cyst treated with percutaneous doxycycline: is a single treatment sufficient?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this case series is to report on the effectiveness of a single percutaneous injection of doxycycline as a primary treatment for aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on seven patients diagnosed with ABC at various anatomical sites, with the intention to treat by a single percutaneous injection of doxycycline. Mean patient age was 14 years.

RESULTS

Signs of treatment response were seen in six of seven patients after one injection. Three of the seven received a second treatment, despite signs of response. Another had expansion of the lesion after treatment, requiring excision. In total, three patients had a single injection of doxycycline as their sole treatment and another three showed signs of response after a single injection.

CONCLUSIONS

A single percutaneous injection of doxycycline should be considered a viable primary treatment option for ABC.

Characterization of doxycycline-loaded calcium phosphate cement: implications for treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts

Percutaneous doxycycline for treatment for aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) has been shown to decrease recurrence rates, however, this requires multiple procedures, includes the risks soft tissue necrosis, and does not provide structural support. We propose utilizing curettage with doxycycline-loaded calcium phosphate cement. This study aimed to evaluate the elution profile of doxycycline from calcium phosphate cement. Calcium phosphate cement underwent an in vitro elution protocol evaluating doxycycline concentrations of 0, 5, 10, and 15 mg/mL. Eluted concentrations were quantified utilizing high performance liquid chromatography at predetermined time points over 96 h. Compressive strength was evaluated both pre- and post-elution and micro-computed tomography was utilized to assess changes in cement porosity. Cement with 15 mg/mL of doxycycline maintained a higher average concentration (mean, 95% confidence intervals) (14.5 µg/mL [9.2-19.9 µg/mL]) compared to both 5 mg/mL (5.8 µg/mL [3.1-8.6 µg/mL]; P < 0.001) and 10 mg/mL (8.4 ± µg/mL [6.0-10.9 µg/mL]; P < 0.001). Ultimate stress significantly decreased between pre- and post-elution samples for 10 mg/mL (P= 0.001) and 15 mg/mL (P = 0.004) groups. This study demonstrated a dose-dependent response in ultimate strength and compressive modulus with addition of doxycycline to calcium phosphate cement.

Efficacy and Safety of Selective Arterial Embolization in the Treatment of Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Mobile Spine: A Retrospective Observational Study

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim is to define the efficacy and safety of serial selective arterial embolization (SAE) in the treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs), to explore potential treatment alternatives, and to define a therapeutic algorithm.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

ABC is a benign lesion with an unpredictable behavior. Its treatment is challenging especially in poorly accessible surgical areas, such as spine and pelvis. Currently, the first-line treatment of ABC is repeated SAE until healing. Other options have been used with variable success rates.

METHODS

From January 2004 to September 2015, 23 patients affected by ABC of the mobile spine have been treated with SAE and prospectively followed up by computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Signs of neurological deficit, complications, healing of the lesion, and clinical outcomes were registered.Signs of healing are defined as peripheral sclerotic bone rim formation, decrease of the ABC mass, disappearance of the double content image, and bone formation inside the ABC mass, associated with remission of pain.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients underwent SAE according to the protocol. Seventeen patients have healed. The number of procedures necessary to obtain healing (clinical and radiographic) varied from 1 to 10. No complication occurred during the procedure. Follow-up time ranged from 5 to 120 months after the last angiographic procedure. All 17 patients had complete relief of pain symptoms. Six patients did not respond to SAE, presenting a progressive clinical and radiographic worsening, and underwent other medical or minimally invasive treatments.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms the safety of SAE. The efficacy of the treatment was however lower than expected. SAE is indicated when pathological fracture or signs of cord damage are not detected. Infiltration with autologous bone marrow concentrate or administration of Denosumab is under investigation as alternative choices of treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Benign Tumors of the Spine: Has New Chemotherapy and Interventional Radiology Changed the Treatment Paradigm?

STUDY DESIGN

Clinically based systematic review.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the role of (A) medical treatment and (B) interventional radiology as either adjuvant or stand-alone treatment in primary benign bone tumors of the spine.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of spine surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists elaborated specific focused questions regarding aneurysmal bone cyst, giant cell tumor, and osteoid osteoma. Denosumab, bisphosphonate, interferon, bone marrow aspirate, doxycycline, thermal ablation, and selective arterial embolization were identified as areas of interest for the article. A systematic review was performed through MEDLINE and EMBASE. Recommendations based on the literature review and clinical expertise were issued using the GRADE system.

RESULTS

The overall quality of the literature is very low with few multicenter prospective studies. For giant cell tumor, combination with Denosumab identified 14 pertinent articles with four multicenter prospective studies. Nine studies were found on bisphosphonates and six for selective arterial embolization. The search on aneurysmal bone cyst and selective arterial embolization revealed 12 articles. Combination with Denosumab, Doxycycline, and bone marrow aspirate identified four, two, and three relevant articles respectively. Eleven focused articles were selected on the role of thermal ablation in osteoid osteoma.

CONCLUSION

Alternative and adjuvant therapy for primary benign bone tumors have emerged. Their ability to complement or replace surgery is now being scrutinized and they may impact significantly the algorithm of treatment of these tumors. Most of the data are still emerging and further research is desirable. Close collaboration between the different specialists managing these pathologies is crucial.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A.