Ganglion cyst of the ligamentum flavum: a rare cause of cervical spinal cord compression. A case report.

Ganglion cysts of the ligamentum flavum are uncommon degenerative spinal lesions and are mostly encountered in the lumbar spine. Cervical localisation is rare and may cause severe myelopathy. They accompany degenerative changes of the spine and can be differentiated from synovial and other degenerative spinal cysts on the basis of location and histopathological features. Ganglion cysts of the ligamentum flavum are unusual extradural spinal lesions and most have been reported in the lumbar region. Cervical localisation is an extremely rare cause of myelopathy and, to our knowledge, only three cases have been reported.1 2 Differentiation of ganglion cysts of the ligamentum flavum from other degenerative spinal cysts is still debated.1e4 We report a case of ganglion cyst of the ligamentum flavum in the cervical spine, presenting as progressive tetraparesis due to severe spinal cord compression.