title: Intraspinal synovial cysts: MR imaging.
abstract: Juxtaarticular intraspinal synovial cysts are unusual lesions of the spine associated with facet arthropathy. These lesions can cause radicular symptoms and may masquerade clinically as other, more common entities. Synovial cysts have been detected at myelography and have been well characterized at computed tomography as posterolateral epidural masses, typically at L4-5. Six synovial cysts of the lumbar spine were demonstrated on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The signal-intensity patterns of these lesions are variable. MR imaging can be used to document the presence of hemorrhage within the cyst, which may relate to the exacerbation of symptoms. Air-filled synovial cysts may be difficult to detect and distinguish from facet arthropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Atlas
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*