Cavum septum pellucidum

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The cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) is a normal variant CSF space between the leaflets of the septum pellucidum. It is sometimes called the fifth ventricle.

Epidemiology

A CSP is present in 100% of fetuses, but over 85% of them fuse by 3-6 months of age meaning that a CSP is present in ~15% of the population.

Gross anatomy

The CSP commonly occurs, and is often confused with the cavum vergae, which is situated posterior to the anterior columns of the fornix. During development, these spaces obliterate postero-anteriorly - the cavum vergae followed by the cavum septum pellucidum - and it is not uncommon that both occur together.

Boundaries¹

anterior - genu of the corpus callosum
superior - body of the corpus callosum
posterior - anterior limb and pillars of the fornix
inferior - anterior commissure and the rostrum of the corpus callosum
lateral - leaflets of the septum pellucidum¹

Related pathology

It has been loosely associated with ^3-5:

schizophrenia
post-traumatic stress disorder
chronic brain trauma

However, an absent cavum septum pellucidum in antenatal imaging is a concerning feature and is associated with significant CNS anomalies ⁶.

Differential diagnosis

-<p>The <strong>cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) </strong>is a normal variant CSF space between the leaflets of the septum pellucidum. It is sometimes called the <strong>fifth ventricle</strong>. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>A CSP is present in 100% of fetuses, but over 85% of them fuse by 3-6 months of age meaning that a CSP is present in ~15% of the population. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The CSP commonly occurs, and is often confused with the <a href="/articles/cavum-vergae">cavum vergae</a>, which is situated posterior to the anterior columns of the fornix. During development, these spaces obliterate postero-anteriorly - the cavum vergae followed by the cavum septum pellucidum - and it is not uncommon that both occur together. </p><h5>Boundaries <sup>1</sup>
~~-</h5><ul>~~
~~-<li>anterior - genu of the corpus callosum</li>~~
+<p>The <strong>cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) </strong>is a normal variant CSF space between the leaflets of the septum pellucidum. It is sometimes called the <strong>fifth ventricle</strong>. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>A CSP is present in 100% of fetuses, but over 85% of them fuse by 3-6 months of age meaning that a CSP is present in ~15% of the population. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The CSP commonly occurs, and is often confused with the <a href="/articles/cavum-vergae">cavum vergae</a>, which is situated posterior to the anterior columns of the fornix. During development, these spaces obliterate postero-anteriorly - the cavum vergae followed by the cavum septum pellucidum - and it is not uncommon that both occur together. </p><h5>Boundaries</h5><ul>
+<li>anterior - genu of the <a title="Corpus callosum" href="/articles/corpus-callosum">corpus callosum</a>
+</li>
~~-<li>lateral - leaflets of the septum pellucidum</li>~~
+<li>lateral - leaflets of the septum pellucidum <sup>1</sup>
+</li>

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Figure 2: CSP - gross pathology

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Image 7 MRI (T2) ( update )

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Image 8 CT (non-contrast) ( update )

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Cavum septum pellucidum