Microcervical Foraminotomy for Cervical Juxtafacet Cysts: Case Series and Literature Review

Snapshots of the patient, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) images prior to the surgery in Case 1. (A) The patient was unable to raise his left upper extremity. (B) T2-weighted axial MRI image in C4-5. The white arrow points to the lesion in the left C4-5 foramen. (C) C4-5 axial CT myelogram image. The black arrow points to the loss of contrast as a result of the lesion. (D) Preoperative 3D CT image of the cervical spine. It shows marked osteophyte formation at the left C4-5 and C5-6 facet joints.

Intraoperative photographs, histopathological images and postoperative photographs of the patient. (A) A photograph following microcervical foraminotomy before cyst removal. The white arrow points to the cyst. (B) A photograph following cyst removal. The left C5 nerve root is well decompressed. (C) A pathological image of resected cyst. Increased collagen fibers, fibroblasts and acidic mucus with positive Alcian blue staining point to the diagnosis of a ganglion cyst. (D) Six months following the surgery, the patient was able to raise his left upper extremity.

A magnetic resonance image (MRI), an intraoperative photograph, a macrograph, and a pathological image of the resected cyst in Case 2. (A) T2-weighted axial MRI image in C7-T1. The white arrow points to the cyst. (B) An intraoperative photograph. The black arrow points to the cyst in ligamentum flavum. (C) A macrograph of the resected cyst. The color is dark red due to bleeding into the cyst. (D) A pathological image of the resected cyst. A ganglion cyst containing red blood cells and fibrin.