J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2020 Jun;55(3):261-265. 10.4055/jkoa.2020.55.3.261.

Lumbar Juxtafacet Cyst Treated with Direct Needle Aspiration Under the Guidance of Image Intensifier

• Hong SH
• Suh SP
• Hwang SH
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2502621
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2020.55.3.261

Abstract

A lumbar juxtafacet cyst is a rare disease that causes low back pain, radiculopathy and neurological claudication by compressing the nerve roots. A 34-year-old male complained of severe low back pain and radicular pain in the right lower extremity. Magnetic resonance images revealed a cyst at the lateral recess of the spinal canal between the L3-4 disc and posterior facet joint that extended to the L4 body level. Under the guidance of an image intensifier, needle aspiration of the cyst was performed, which extracted 1.5 ml of serous, yellowish colored fluid. After the aspiration, the symptoms subsided dramatically. The follow-up magnetic resonance images showed no recurrence of the cyst. To the best of the author’s knowledge, there are no reports of lumbar juxtafacet cyst treated with needle aspiration in Korea. This case is reported with a review of the relevant literature.

Keyword

lumbar spine; cysts; needle aspiration