[Inter-apophyseal articular synovial cyst of the lumbar spine. X-ray computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging correlation. Apropos of 2 cases].

Two patients presenting with L5 radiculagia were investigated by CT scan imaging. The origin of the pain was determined with certitude as arising from intraspinal development of an interapophyseal synovial cyst. Examination of the two cases by MR imaging provided conflicting results: in one patient images obtained by MR were not contributive and the synovial cyst would probably have been missed while in the other patient images were specific and very sensitive for diagnosis of interapophyseal synovial lesions. Treatment was surgical in both cases.