Diagnosis and management of juxtafacet cysts

Abstract

Juxtafacet cysts are lesions that are associated with spinal facet joints. Although these lesions are frequently noted as incidental findings on imaging studies of the spine, they may produce symptoms in some patients. Juxtafacet cysts can mimic herniated discs, resulting in symptoms from focal nerve root and/or spinal cord compression. Some of these lesions are associated with spinal instability, and patients may require spinal fusion to address this underlying disorder. Conservative therapy for symptomatic lesions is often unsuccessful, although there are reports of spontaneous resolution of these cysts as well as the symptoms associated with them. Surgical therapy should be focused on decompression of the lesions causing nerve root compression and the accompanying symptoms, while recognizing that instability requiring fusion may be present in some but not all cases.