Degenerative intraspinal cyst of the cervical spine: case report and literature review.

Study Design: A case report and a literature review are presented.

Objective: To describe and review the clinical presentations, characteristic findings from imaging studies, and treatment of synovial and ganglion cysts arising within the cervical spinal canal.

Summary Of Background Data: Synovial and ganglion cysts in the cervical spine are rare. To the authors' knowledge, 24 sporadic cases in all, designated by various terms, have been reported in the literature.

Methods: Three cases of synovial and ganglion cysts in the cervical spine are reported as well as a review of the literature.

Results: Characteristic findings from imaging studies included a fluid-containing extradural lesion demonstrated on magnetic resonance images and gas content in the lesion demonstrated on ordinary or sagittally reconstructed computed tomography images. A laminectomy with removal of the cyst was the treatment of choice in most cases.

Conclusions: Neither communication with an adjacent facet joint nor histopathology of the cyst wall provides a persuasive basis for differentiating ganglion, synovial cyst, and cyst arising from the ligaments. To accommodate the varied presentations, the authors propose a comprehensive term for these lesions: "degenerative intraspinal cyst."