Synovial cyst symptoms & treatment

A synovial cyst is a noncancerous fluid-filled cyst located near the lower back. A thin layer of tissue (synovium), which produces a special lubricating fluid, surrounds the joints in the lower back. As joints break down with age, the fluid can accumulate, forming an odontoid synovial cyst.

Symptoms of a synovial cyst

Depending on where and how big the synovial cyst grows, it may not cause any symptoms or it may cause a painful condition called spinal stenosis. Other synovial cyst symptoms may include:

• Difficulty walking
• Lower back pain that spreads down one or both legs
• Pain that eases with sitting and worsens with standing

Diagnosis of a synovial cyst

To diagnose a synovial cyst, your doctor may recommend an MRI scan.

Treatments for a synovial cyst

Often, your synovial cyst symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Your doctor may also prescribe steroid injections or physical therapy as a first-line synovial cyst treatment.

If symptoms are particularly painful or debilitating, your expert team of neurosurgeons may recommend the following:

• Microsurgical excision to remove the entire cyst
• Laminectomy (in addition to removal of the synovial cyst), in which a small portion of the vertebrae is removed to ease nerve compression
• Surgical fusion, which fuses a portion of the spine together to help stabilize the bones

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