J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  1997 Nov;4(2):357-364.

Intra and Extraspinal Infected Synovial Cyst of the Lumbar Spine: Case Report

• Jeon CH
• Lee WI
• Kang SY

Abstract

Synovial cysts are uncommon lesions that may occur within the spinal canal. Most commonly synovial cysts arise from degenerative apophyseal joints, in particular at the L4-5 level, and are associated with spondylolisthesis. We present one case of lumbar synovial cyst located both intraspinally and extraspinally and originated from the defect of the pars interarticularis. The content of the synovial cyst was infected. The patient progressively developed low back pain and fever. The lesion was diag nosed by computed tomography and a magnetic resonance imaging. The synovial cyst was presented a huge lobulacted intraspinal and extraspinal mass and connected with the L4-5 facet joint on the right side. The dural sac was displaced by the intraspinal mass. Relieve of symptoms was achieved with decompressive laminectomy and removal of the mass. The content of the synovial cyst was infected with Staphylococcus aureus confirmed by the synovial fluid culture. The reasons for our report are to describe the previously unreported appearance of this lesion that was huge lobulated intraspinal and extraspinal mass with infected fluid content originated from the defect of the pars interarticularis.

MeSH Terms

Fever
Humans
Joints
Laminectomy
Low Back Pain
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Nose
Spinal Canal
Spine*
Spondylolisthesis
Staphylococcus aureus
Synovial Cyst*
Synovial Fluid
Zygapophyseal Joint