Issue release date: 12.11.2024
2Haydarpaşa Numune Hospital Departments of Pathology, İstanbul, Turkey Objective: The cervical synovial cysts are unusual extradural lesions which may cause radiculopathy or spinal cord compression. The aim of this paper is to describe a case of cervical synovial cyst and discusses the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of these rare lesions.
Methods: A 55-year-old man presented with a history of progressive gait disturbance, and weakness and numbness of the lower extremities. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spherical, extradural lesion adjacent to the C5-C6 facet joints. It did not enhance with contrast injection. The subarachnoid space had been obliterated and myelomalacia was noted. A laminectomy performed and identified an extradural cystic mass originating from a degenerated facet joint at C5-6. It was compressing the medulla at that level. The lesion was completely excised.
Result: Histological examination showed a fibrous wall with synovial lining. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient's neurological status rapidly improved.
Conclusion: It is important to include synovial cysts in the differential diagnosis for any extradural spinal lesion because these cysts have significant implications for surgical treatment.
Keywords : Cervical spine, faut joint, juxta facet cyst, synovial cyst