Spontaneous regression of a discal cyst

Abstract

The authors describe a case of a discal cyst that resolved almost completely without direct intervention. Discal cysts are rare, with the authors of only a few case reports describing this entity. These reports all identify at least some intervention performed for alleviation of the symptoms, including open surgery, minimally invasive surgery, or percutaneous puncture with aspiration. The authors report on a 35-year-old man with radiculopathy who presented with a discal cyst and was treated with a routine epidural injection and selective nerve root block. Within 5 months, the discal cyst showed dramatic regression on magnetic resonance imaging and the patient's symptoms improved. The natural history of this pathological entity is unknown, and to the authors' knowledge this is the first detailed report of the regression of a discal cyst without surgery or aspiration.