Percutaneous CT-guided puncture and steroid injection for the treatment of lumbar discal cyst: a case report.

Study Design: A case report of discal cyst treated by percutaneous CT-guided puncture and steroid injection.

Objectives: To present the efficacy of percutaneous CT-guided puncture and steroid injection for the treatment of this disorder.

Summary Of The Background Data: Surgical removal of the cyst is usually performed for the treatment of this disorder. However, it was recently reported that direct CT-guided puncture and steroid injection was useful for the treatment of intraspinal synovial cyst.

Methods: A 37-year-old man experienced low back pain and right lower extremity pain with sensory abnormality over the right leg and foot. MRI revealed an extradural spherical mass with low signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging and high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging behind the L5 vertebral body. On discography, contrast medium rapidly flowed into the cyst through a thin channel from the neighboring disc cavity. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of discal cyst was made. Percutaneous CT-guided puncture and steroid injection were performed.

Results: Low back pain, right extremity pain, and numbness disappeared immediately after the procedure. On MRI examination, the cyst gradually diminished in size after the procedure.

Conclusion: CT-guided percutaneous puncture and steroid injection may be a useful procedure for the treatment of discal cyst.