title: Giant, completely calcified lumbar juxtafacet cyst: report of an unusual case.
abstract: Study Design Case report. Objective To report the case of one patient who developed a giant, completely calcified, juxtafacet cyst. Methods A 57-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of progressively worsening lower back pain, left leg pain, weakness, and paresthesias. Imaging showed a giant, completely calcified mass arising from the left L5-S1 facet joint, with coexisting grade I L5 on S1 anterolisthesis. The patient was treated with laminectomy, excision of the mass, and L5-S1 fixation and fusion. Results The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course and had complete resolution of her symptoms as of 1-year follow-up. Conclusions When presented with a solid-appearing, calcified mass arising from the facet joint, a completely calcified juxtafacet cyst should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States.
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States.
authors.forename: Teresa S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States.
authors.forename: Jacob H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bagley
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bagley
keywords: case report; complete calcification; juxtafacet cyst; synovial cyst
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