Facet arthrography of a cervical synovial cyst. 2012

Katsuhiro Tofuku, and Hiroaki Koga, and Setsuro Komiya
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kagoshima Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan. tofuku@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp

A rare case is presented of a synovial cyst located at the level of C3-C4 that caused cervical myelopathy and that was preoperatively diagnosed by facet arthrography. A woman in her late seventies experienced muscle weakness and numbness in her right upper extremity and gait disturbance. MRI revealed an extradural lesion located dorsolaterally on the right side of the spinal cord at the level of C3-C4. CT facet arthrography revealed continuity of the extradural lesion with the right C3-C4 facet joint and infiltration of contrast medium into the lesion. Postoperatively, histological examination of the cyst showed fibrous tissue with calcium deposits and the presence of synovial lining. Preoperatively, cervical synovial cysts are often difficult to distinguish from other extradural lesions. In this case, facet arthrography allowed the preoperative determination of communication between the extradural lesion and the facet joint, leading to the diagnosis of a synovial cyst.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002574 Cervical Vertebrae The first seven VERTEBRAE of the SPINAL COLUMN, which correspond to the VERTEBRAE of the NECK. Cervical Spine,Cervical Spines,Spine, Cervical,Vertebrae, Cervical
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D001175 Arthrography Roentgenography of a joint, usually after injection of either positive or negative contrast medium. Arthrographies
D013581 Synovial Cyst Non-neoplastic tumor-like lesions at joints, developed from the SYNOVIAL MEMBRANE of a joint through the JOINT CAPSULE into the periarticular tissues. They are filled with SYNOVIAL FLUID with a smooth and translucent appearance. A synovial cyst can develop from any joint, but most commonly at the back of the knee, where it is known as POPLITEAL CYST. Synovial Cysts,Cyst, Synovial,Cysts, Synovial
D021801 Zygapophyseal Joint The joint that occurs between facets of the interior and superior articular processes of adjacent VERTEBRAE. Facet Joint,Zygapophysial Joint,Facet Joints,Joint, Facet,Joint, Zygapophyseal,Joint, Zygapophysial,Joints, Facet,Joints, Zygapophyseal,Joints, Zygapophysial,Zygapophyseal Joints,Zygapophysial Joints

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