Summary:
An epidural gaseous pseudocyst is a rare unit found along with degenerative affections of the intervertebral disc. In exceptional cases it causes a clinically significant symptomatology. In the submitted tase-history the author describes the tase of a 52-year-old woman with advanced degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc L5/Sl and a large epidural gaseous pseudocyst manifested by radicular Syndrome L5 and S1 resistant to conservative treatment. In the patient surgery was indicated which confirmed the diagnosis of a gaseous pseudocyst causing compression of nerve structures. Surgery led to relief from preoperative complaints after evacuation of the pseudocyst documented on magnetic resonance (MRI). An epidural gaseous pseudocyst can be considered a rare pathogenetically not quite elucidated manifestation of degenerative affection of the spine with clinical manifestations reminding of a prolapse of an intervertebral disc. When conservative treatment fails this disease can be treated successfully by neurosurgery.
Key words:
epidural gas, epidural gaseous pseudocyst, degenerative intervertebral disc
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