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

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.