Multiple lesions of skull and cervical spine: a rare presentation of unicameral bone cysts.

ABSTRACT

A 55-year-old man with a history of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo unalleviated by Epley manoeuvre presented to an otolaryngologist for dizziness, right ear fullness and headache. MRI of the brain showed numerous marrow-replacing lesions throughout the calvarium, skull base and upper cervical spine which were hypointense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images and avidly enhanced following contrast, concerning for a malignant process such as metastatic disease or multiple myeloma (figure 1). Systemic X-ray survey (spine, skull, chest, pelvis, all long bones) and nuclear medicine whole body bone scan were negative except for the lesions seen on MRI. ß-2microglobin, immunoglobin and monoclonal protein electrophoresis were negative for myeloma or immunological process. Given the concern for metastatic disease, biopsy of a skull lesion was recommended. Pathological analysis of a calvarial lesion was consistent with unicameral bone cyst (figure 1). No ongoing therapy was offered; however, brain and spine surveillance imaging will continue.