The extraforaminal juxtafacet cyst as a rare cause of L5 radiculopathy: a case report.
METHODS
This is a report of a case.


OBJECTIVE
To document the clinical, radiographic, and histologic characteristics of a lumbar extraforaminal juxtafacet cyst.


BACKGROUND
Spinal juxtafacet cysts develop most frequently at the dorsal aspect of the zygapophysial joint, sometimes in the posterolateral area of the canal. In one case, they have been described in the foraminal and extraforaminal region.


METHODS
Description of the case report.


RESULTS
The authors report one case of a strictly extraforaminal juxtafacet cyst responsible for L5 sciatica.


CONCLUSIONS
Juxtafacet cysts of the spine represent an infrequent cause of sciatica, usually when they grow in the canal, or more exceptionally when they occupy the foraminal or extraforaminal areas.
Salmon
Bernard L
BL
Department of Neurosurgery, State University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Deprez
Manuel P
MP
Stevenaert
Achille E
AE
Martin
Didier H
DH
D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000209:etiology*; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint