Myelopathy induced by a thoracic intraspinal synovial cyst: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Study design: A follow-up study of a patient with myelopathy resulting from a thoracic intraspinal synovial cyst was conducted.

Objective: To present this unusual form of myelopathy, and to highlight this unique condition by a literature review.

Summary of background data: Intraspinal synovial cysts are quite common in the lumbar spine, but much rarer in the thoracic spine, where they may produce myelopathy from spinal cord compression. The reported patient presented with a lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis, but actually was symptomatic from a thoracic synovial cyst.

Methods: Clinical and radiographic details of a patient with a thoracic intraspinal synovial cyst are presented. A complete literature review also summarizes previously published material on this topic.

Results: The thoracic intraspinal synovial cyst was appropriately identified on a magnetic resonance image examination. The patient underwent successful thoracic spinal cord decompression with stabilization and fusion. The myelopathy resolved postoperatively.

Conclusions: The possibility of a thoracic synovial cyst should be considered in the evaluation of pain associated with myelopathy.