title: Ganglion cyst of the spinal anterior longitudinal ligament presenting as a retropharyngeal mass.
abstract: Cervical spinal synovial and/or ganglion cysts can occur at various periarticular sites and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraspinal-extradural or paraspinal masses of the cervical spine. The first report of a ganglion cyst of the cervical anterior longitudinal ligament presenting as a retropharyngeal mass, is presented. The histopathology, etiology, and clinical aspects of synovial and ganglion cysts of the cervical spine are briefly reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Geneva University Hospital, 24 rue Micheli-du-Crest, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giger
authors.forename: Ildiko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szalay-Quinodoz
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haenggeli
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dulguerov
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D017846:Longitudinal Ligaments / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology