Unicameral bone cyst of the big toe

Case contributed by Domenico Nicoletti
Diagnosis certain

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Male

Left first toe

x-ray

Eccentric cystic expansion with thinning of cortices of the proximal phalanx of the big toe with fracture and "fallen leaf" sign (pathologic fracture with fallen cortical fragment in base of empty cyst is pathognomonic).

Annotated image

Fallen fragment sign.

Case Discussion

Unicameral bone cyst lesion is a non-neoplastic, serous fluid-filled bone lesion thought to result from temporary failure of medullary bone formation near the physis. Usually found in the proximal humerus of young patients and can be found in other locations including proximal femur, distal tibia, ilium, calcaneus, and occasionally metacarpals, phalanges, or distal radius arises in the metaphysis adjacent to physis and progresses toward the diaphysis with bone growth.

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