• E Graham, L G Lenke, D Hannallah, and C Lauryssen.
• Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
• Spine. 2001 Sep 1; 26 (17): E392-4.

Study DesignA follow-up study of a patient with myelopathy resulting from a thoracic intraspinal synovial cyst was conducted.ObjectiveTo present this unusual form of myelopathy, and to highlight this unique condition by a literature review.Summary Of Background DataIntraspinal synovial cysts are quite common in the lumbar spine, but much rarer in the thoracic spine, where they may produce myelopathy from spinal cord compression. The reported patient presented with a lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis, but actually was symptomatic from a thoracic synovial cyst.MethodsClinical and radiographic details of a patient with a thoracic intraspinal synovial cyst are presented. A complete literature review also summarizes previously published material on this topic.ResultsThe thoracic intraspinal synovial cyst was appropriately identified on a magnetic resonance image examination. The patient underwent successful thoracic spinal cord decompression with stabilization and fusion. The myelopathy resolved postoperatively.ConclusionsThe possibility of a thoracic synovial cyst should be considered in the evaluation of pain associated with myelopathy.

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