Cervical juxtafacet cysts: case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Juxtafacet cysts of the cervical and thoracic spine are rare and often present with myelopathy. Juxtafacet cysts are well recognized entities found commonly in the lumbar spine but are unusual in the cervical and thoracic spine. We present a case of a patient with gait disturbance and early myelopathy who was found to have a juxtafacet cyst at the cervico-thoracic junction. We further review the literature.

Purpose: To describe a case of a cervico-thoracic juxtafacet cyst and review the literature.

Study design: Case report and subject review.

Methods: One patient presenting with early myelopathy and pain underwent surgery for resection of the lesion. Pathologic analysis revealed a juxtafacet cyst.

Results: The patient recovered uneventfully with relief of his pain. Pubmed review revealed less than 30 similar cases in the literature.

Conclusion: Juxtafacet cysts of the cervical spine are rare entities. These lesions comprise both synovial cysts and ganglion cysts. The benign lesions present with myelopathy and should be considered in patients with cystic lesions in the cervical spinal canal.