Fast-Growing Cervical Juxtafacet Cyst Mimicking Epidural Hematoma: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT

CASE A 75-year-old man, who was a carpenter, experienced neck pain and numbness in the upper and lower extremities while hammering a nail and later developed a gait disturbance. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tumor-like mass at the C5 epidural space compressing the spinal cord. The first diagnosis was cervical epidural hematoma. The following day, the patient's symptom deteriorated. A second MRI revealed an increase in the size of the mass, and surgery was performed. Operative findings included a juxtafacet cyst. CONCLUSION: Repeated job-related load on the facet joint in this patient caused rapid progression of facet cysts, causing myelopathy similar to an epidural hematoma.