title: Spontaneous hemorrhage in a lumbar ganglion cyst.
abstract: METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a case of a subacute radiculopathy resulting from a spontaneous hemorrhage into a lumbar ganglion cyst.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Ganglion and synovial cysts of the lumbar spine are becoming more frequent, and they are generally associated with degenerative lumbar spinal disease. Few cases of hemorrhage into lumbar juxtafacet cysts after trauma or anticoagulation therapy have been described in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of a spontaneous hemorrhage in a lumbar ganglion cyst is presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 61-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of intermittent bilateral lumbar ache. Eight days before admission he had a sudden exacerbation of the lumbar pain and began to fall frequently and noticed weakness and tingling in his lower members, mainly in the right leg. Magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a hematic collection associated with a large juxtafacet cyst at the L4-L5 level. He was submitted to surgery and the cyst was totally removed. Microscopic examination was consistent with the diagnosis of a ganglion cyst. Two days after surgery he had already an independent gait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although, there are a few descriptions of hemorrhagic lumbar justafacet cysts after trauma or anticoagulant therapy, this is the first case of a hemorrhagic ganglion cyst with no previous traumatic event or use of medication. Magnetic resonance imaging was essential for making the preoperative diagnosis. Neurosurgical cyst removal proved to be an effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neuroradiology, Hospital Pedro Hispano, Matosinhos, Portugal. mavildearantes@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mavilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.forename: Rosa Santos
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Romão
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moniz
authors.forename: Mrinalini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honavar
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D045888:Ganglion Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged