title: Ligamentum flavum cysts causing incapacitating lumbar spinal stenosis.
abstract: 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.
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: DiMaio
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Marmor
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Albrecht
authors: Gérard
authors: G
authors: Mohr
mesh_terms: 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