Interthalamic adhesion
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Hacking C, Ismail M, Campos A, et al. Interthalamic adhesion. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-66538
rID:
66538
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Rohit Sharma had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Rohit Sharma's current disclosures
Revisions:
10 times, by
9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Massa intermedia
- Interthalamic adhesion (ITA)
- thalamic adhesion
The interthalamic adhesion, or massa intermedia, is a small variably present non-neural connection between the medial apposing surfaces of the two thalami that passes through the third ventricle7. It is not a commissure as once thought, as it does not contain neurones; instead, it is composed of glial tissue. Its functional significance is unknown 5.
If a cast is made of the ventricular system when the adhesion is present, it will create a hole (fenestration or window) in the centre of the third ventricle.
The reported presence of the adhesion varies in the literature, ranging from 75% 4 to 96% 5. It has been reported to be more commonly present in females than males. Interestingly Damle et al. found that when present, the adhesion is larger in females and this correlates with increased attention 5.
Related pathology
It is larger in patients with Chiari II malformations 3.
It is suggested aberrations of the massa intermedia are associated with 6:
References
- 1. Henry Gray, Patricia Collins. Gray's Anatomy. (2005) ISBN: 0443071683 - Google Books
- 2. Mcminn. Last's Anatomy. (2003) ISBN: 9780729537520 - Google Books
- 3. Wolpert S, Anderson M, Scott R, Kwan E, Runge V. Chiari II Malformation: MR Imaging Evaluation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1987;149(5):1033-42. doi:10.2214/ajr.149.5.1033 - Pubmed
- 4. Lang J. Topographic Anatomy of Preformed Intracranial Spaces. Acta Neurochir Suppl (Wien). 1992;54:1-10. doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-6687-1_1 - Pubmed
- 5. Damle N, Ikuta T, John M et al. Relationship Among Interthalamic Adhesion Size, Thalamic Anatomy and Neuropsychological Functions in Healthy Volunteers. Brain Struct Funct. 2017;222(5):2183-92. doi:10.1007/s00429-016-1334-6 - Pubmed
- 6. Whitehead M & Najim N. Thalamic Massa Intermedia in Children with and Without Midline Brain Malformations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2020;41(4):729-35. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A6446 - Pubmed
- 7. Parra J, Ripoll Á, García J. Interthalamic Adhesion in Humans: A Gray Commissure? Anat Cell Biol. 2022;55(1):109-12. doi:10.5115/acb.21.164 - Pubmed
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