PERCUTANEOUS TREATMENT OF LUMBAR SYNOVIAL CYST: A CASE REPORT

Introduction and aims: Synovial cysts are benign cystic lesions that form when the joint capsule is worn during joint movement and synovial fluid leaks out. Intraspinal synovial cysts in the lumbar region are generally diagnosed when investigating patients who complaints of back pain or other symptoms which could be attributed to radiculopathy. The aim of this paper is to present the use of the percutaneous needle aspiration method with tomography guidance to treat an L4-L5 synovial cyst causing radicular symptoms. Case report: A 40-year old female, with a 5-year complaint of back pain, applied to our clinic with recent increase in existing complaints and the addition of left leg pain. Lumbar computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations showed at L4 vertebra corpus level in the spinal canal right posterolateral recess, neighboring the right L5 nerve root, a 9x7x4 mm T2 hyperintense, T1 hypointense nodular appearance. A percutaneous cyst aspiration was planned and after aseptic conditions were ensured, a 22 G spinal needle was used to aspire the fluid in the synovial cyst between L4-L5 guided by tomography images and 80 mg methyl prednisone with 6 ml 0.25% bupivacaine were injected into cyst and the procedure was completed. Discussion and conclusion: In symptomatic lumbar synovial cyst cases percutaneous cyst aspiration, steroid injection or surgical resection may be chosen. However as percutaneous cyst aspiration has a lower rate of complications such as infection, bleeding, nerve damage and dural puncture compared to surgical treatment, it should be first choice.