Ligamentum flavum cyst: An uncommon but recognizable and surgically correctable category of juxtafacet cyst

摘要

Ligamentum flavum cyst is considered as a category of juxtafacet cyst and is recognized to be rare cause of cord compression and radiculopathy. The pathogenesis of these cysts is not yet fully understood, but it has been proposed that continuous stress to this ligament due to minor repetitive trauma, such as in spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, may lead to the development of cyst. Intraspinal cyst can encroach and displace neural structures that can lead to neurologic symptoms. Although a rare entity, intraspinal cyst should be included in the causative factors of neurogenic claudication or lumbar radiculopathy based on typical magnetic resonance imaging appearance. Timely diagnosis is also imperative in this condition due to a better surgical outcome.