[Juxta facet cyst of the lumbar spine: an uncommon cause of lumbar radiculopathy].

Lumbar juxta facet cysts (JFC) are an uncommon cause of radiculopathy. Spontaneous regression of symptomatic JFC has not often been reported. We describe 2 patients, a 59-year-old man and a 55-year-old man, with radiculopathy of the 5th lumbar nerve root due to a JFC at L4-5. The first patient recovered spontaneously. After 8 months, the JFC had clearly reduced on MRI. In the second patient the JFC was surgically resected due to progressive pain, after which the patient remained without symptoms. In the literature it is suggested that surgical removal of the JFC should be the treatment of choice. However, of the 5 patients who were diagnosed with a JFC in our department, 3 recovered spontaneously and 2 after surgery. In our opinion further studies on the course and management of symptomatic lumbar JFC are warranted.