Ligamentum flavum cysts causing incapacitating lumbar spinal stenosis.
BACKGROUND
Cysts of the ligamentum flavum are rare and unusual causes of spinal compression.


METHODS
We report our experience of four cases of ligamentum flavum cysts occurring in the lumbar spine and discuss some of the possible etiologies and pathophysiologic mechanisms according to the available literature.


CONCLUSIONS
This entity is clearly different from the synovial facet-joints or ganglion cysts.
DiMaio
Salvatore
S
Division of Neurosurgery, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Marmor
Eric
E
Albrecht
Stephan
S
Mohr
Gérard
G
D000368:Aged; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology