# A Case Report of a Rare Cervical Synovial Cyst at the C7-T1 Level

## TL;DR

A rare case of a synovial cyst in the cervical spine was successfully treated with surgery, resolving the patient's symptoms.

## Contribution

This report highlights a rare synovial cyst location and emphasizes its importance in spinal lesion differential diagnosis.

## Key findings

- A synovial cyst at C7-T1 caused spinal cord compression and myelopathy in a 52-year-old man.
- Surgical excision via a posterior midline approach resolved symptoms and confirmed a hemorrhagic synovial cyst.
- Synovial cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of extradural spinal lesions.

## Abstract

Synovial cysts are rare, non-neoplastic lesions, with occasional cervical spine involvement. These cysts may compress neural structures, causing radicular pain, myelopathy, or neurological deficits. Surgical excision is the standard treatment for symptomatic cases. This case report presents a 52-year-old man with a three-month history of neck pain, stiffness, and progressive left upper limb weakness and numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a left-sided flaval ligament cyst at C7, causing spinal cord compression and myelopathy. Surgical excision was successfully performed via a posterior midline approach. Histopathological findings confirmed a hemorrhagic synovial cyst. Postoperatively, the patient experienced full symptom resolution. Although rare, synovial cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of extradural spinal lesions, as their presence carries significant implications for surgical management.