J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2010 Sep;17(3):154-156. 10.4184/jkss.2010.17.3.154.

Discal Cyst of Lumbar Spine: A Case Report

• Lee CC
• Cho SD
• Ko SH
• Jung KH
• Youm YS
• Kim SW
• Park KB
• Cha JR

• KMID: 1459281
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2010.17.3.154

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: This is a case report.
OBJECTIVE
We present here a patient who had a discal cyst of the lumbar spine along with neurological symptoms. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: Discal cysts are intraspinal cysts that communicate with an adjacent intervertebral disc, and these are rare lesions that can cause lumbar radiculopathy. Because they are very rare, their natural history and the details of the therapeutic guidelines for the treatment of these cysts are still unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patient complained of moderate lumbar pain and right lower extremity radiculopathy and he was administered conservative treatment for 5 months. But the radiculopathy became aggravated and he then underwent a hemilaminectomy, cyst decompression and discectomy.
RESULTS
The radiculopathy disappeared and any signs of recurrence were not found on the follow up performed at 1 year.
CONCLUSION
Discal cyst is rare, but it can be treated successfully.

Keyword

Lumbar spine; Discal cyst

MeSH Terms

Decompression
Diskectomy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Intervertebral Disc
Lower Extremity
Natural History
Radiculopathy
Recurrence
Spine

Figure

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  Fig. 1. (A,B) Sagittal T2- and T1- weighted magnetic resonance image of the lumbar spine demonstrating an oval-shaped cyst originating from the right L3-4 disc.

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  Fig. 2. (A) Microscopic appearance of the cyst wall and associated soft tissue(left) and disc materials(right) (H&E, original magnification x40). (B) There are fibrous connective tissues without epithelial lining cell layers. (H&E, original magnification x100).

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