Degenerative intraspinal cyst of the cervical spine: case report and literature review.
METHODS
A case report and a literature review are presented.


OBJECTIVE
To describe and review the clinical presentations, characteristic findings from imaging studies, and treatment of synovial and ganglion cysts arising within the cervical spinal canal.


BACKGROUND
Synovial and ganglion cysts in the cervical spine are rare. To the authors' knowledge, 24 sporadic cases in all, designated by various terms, have been reported in the literature.


METHODS
Three cases of synovial and ganglion cysts in the cervical spine are reported as well as a review of the literature.


RESULTS
Characteristic findings from imaging studies included a fluid-containing extradural lesion demonstrated on magnetic resonance images and gas content in the lesion demonstrated on ordinary or sagittally reconstructed computed tomography images. A laminectomy with removal of the cyst was the treatment of choice in most cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Neither communication with an adjacent facet joint nor histopathology of the cyst wall provides a persuasive basis for differentiating ganglion, synovial cyst, and cyst arising from the ligaments. To accommodate the varied presentations, the authors propose a comprehensive term for these lesions: "degenerative intraspinal cyst."
Shima
Yasuko
Y
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagahama City Hospital, Shiga, Japan.
Rothman
Stephan L G
SL
Yasura
Kou
K
Takahashi
Shinobu
S
D000368:Aged; D020863:Central Nervous System Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed