Cervical degenerative cyst located within the body of C2: a case report and review of the literature.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report and review of the literature are presented. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical course and treatment of a patient with an unusual intraosseous degenerative cyst within the body of the axis, as well as review the literature regarding these lesions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Intraosseous degenerative cysts of the cervical spine are extremely rare. To our knowledge, only 4 prior case studies have described these lesions, 2 of which were seen in the body of C2. METHODS: A case report of a 58-year-old patient with neck pain and an intraosseous cyst within the axis is presented with a review of the pertinent literature. RESULTS: History, examination, radiographic evaluation, and histology revealed this lesion to be an intraosseous degenerative cyst within the body of C2. The patient was treated with anterior surgical biopsy/curettage and posterior stabilization with structural graft enhancement. CONCLUSION: Although rare, intraosseous cervical degenerative cysts should be present in any differential diagnosis of cystic lesions seen in the cervical spine.