Rare Jaw Lesions in Juvenile Dogs: New Insights Into Aneurysmal Bone Cysts

Case Reports With Literature Review of an Aneurysmal Bone Cyst in the Maxilla and Mandible of Two Juvenile Dogs

Colin Adley, Mary Krakowski Volker

Background

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare, expansile osteolytic lesions of uncertain origin, characterized by blood-filled spaces and immature bone proliferation. While frequently reported in long bones, ABCs in the canine maxillofacial region are exceptionally uncommon. They are typically identified in young animals, and their etiology is believed to involve trauma, vascular abnormalities, or genetic mutations. This report presents two canine cases and provides a literature review to support diagnosis and management strategies for ABCs affecting the jaws.

Methods

This article details two clinical case reports of juvenile dogs diagnosed with ABCs through a combination of oral examination, dental radiographs, CT imaging, surgical biopsies, and histopathologic analysis. One case involved a 7-month-old Irish Wolfhound with a mandibular lesion treated by bilateral rostral mandibulectomy. The second involved a 12-week-old German Shepherd Dog with a maxillary lesion managed conservatively via incisional biopsy and curettage. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches were guided by imaging and histopathology, supplemented with human and veterinary literature.

Results

In Case 1, a mandibular ABC was discovered incidentally during oral surgery in the Irish Wolfhound. Imaging revealed an expansile lytic lesion with displacement of teeth, and histopathology confirmed the ABC diagnosis. The lesion was surgically excised with wide margins, and the patient recovered uneventfully.
In Case 2, the German Shepherd presented with acute facial swelling. Radiographs showed a poorly defined maxillary osteolytic lesion. Biopsy and curettage confirmed an ABC. The swelling resolved within two weeks, but the dog was lost to follow-up.
Both cases featured characteristic histologic findings including fibroblasts, giant cells, woven bone, and hemorrhage. No trauma history was identified, and both dogs were under one year of age.

Limitations

The main limitations are the small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up in the second case. Advanced imaging such as cone beam CT was unavailable for one patient, which limited evaluation of lesion extent. The etiopathogenesis remains speculative due to the rarity of ABCs in dogs and absence of genetic testing. Furthermore, the literature lacks standardized treatment and prognosis data for canine craniofacial ABCs.

Conclusions

ABCs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic jaw lesions in juvenile dogs. Advanced imaging and biopsy are crucial for accurate diagnosis. Complete surgical excision offers excellent prognosis, although conservative approaches like curettage may be effective in select cases. Periodic imaging follow-up is advised due to potential recurrence. This report adds valuable clinical insight into the presentation and management of ABCs in the canine maxillofacial region and supports inclusion of ABCs in differential diagnoses for young dogs with jaw lesions.

Disclaimer: The summary generated in this email was created by an AI large language model. Therefore errors may occur. Reading the article is the best way to understand the scholarly work. The figure presented here remains the property of the publisher or author and subject to the applicable copyright agreement. It is reproduced here as an educational work. If you have any questions or concerns about the work presented here, reply to this email.