Recurrent aneurysmal bone cyst of the mandibular condyle with soft tissue extension

The case of a 17- year-old female patient with a destructive aneurysmal bone cyst of the right mandibular condyle is presented. Surgery revealed an eggshell thin, partly perforated remaining condylar cortex with extension of the lesion into the surrounding soft tissues. Condylar resection with curettage of the adjacent soft tissues and recurrence prophylaxis with intranasal calcitonin for 1 week could not prevent recurrence after 6 months. In a second operation the ascending mandibular ramus was partly resected and immediately reconstructed with a newly developed alloplastic condylar head add-on system. This time the lesion was intraoperatively completely surrounded by solid cortical bone.