Cavum septum pellucidum

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Cavum septum pellucidum (CSP)is a normal variant CSF space between the leaflets of the septum pellucidum.

Terminology

While the term "cavum septum pellucidum" is generally accepted, it is grammatically incorrect. Since it denotes a space (cavum meaning cave) of the septum pellucidum, the second part (septum pellucidum) should be in the genitive noun case, which would be inflected as cavum septi pellucidi. In its accepted misspelling as "cavum septum pellucidum" both "septum" and "pellucidum" are in fact used as adjectives of cavum. However, the term intends to refer to a space (cavum) that has persisted between the "septum pellucidum".

Historically it has also been called the fifth ventricle, but this use is now advised against as the cavum does not usually have any direct communication with the ventricular system.

Epidemiology

A cavum septum pellucidum is present in the normal fetus, but over 85% of them fuse by 3-6 months of age meaning that a cavum septum pellucidum persists in ~15% of the adult population.

Gross anatomy

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

Boundaries

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 pellucidum ¹

History and etymology

Cavum septum pellucidum is a Latin term deriving from, 'cavum' meaning 'space', 'septum' meaning 'fence', and therefore a dividing structure, and 'pellucidus' meaning 'transparent'.

Related pathology

It has been loosely associated with ^3-5:

schizophrenia
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
chronic traumatic encephalopathy, e.g. in boxers

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

Differential diagnosis

-<p><strong>Cavum septum pellucidum</strong> (<strong>CSP</strong>)<strong> </strong>is a <a href="/articles/anatomical-variants">normal variant</a> <a href="/articles/cerebrospinal-fluid-space">CSF space</a> between the leaflets of the <a href="/articles/septum-pellucidum">septum pellucidum</a>.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>While the term "cavum septum pellucidum" is generally accepted, it is grammatically incorrect. Since it denotes a space (cavum meaning cave) of the septum pellucidum, the second part (septum pellucidum) should be in the genitive noun case, which would be inflected as <strong>cavum septi pellucidi</strong>. In its accepted misspelling as "cavum septum pellucidum" both "septum" and "pellucidum" are in fact used as adjectives of cavum. However, the term intends to refer to a space (cavum) that has persisted between the "septum pellucidum".</p><p>Historically it has also been called the <a href="/articles/fifth-ventricle-disambiguation">fifth ventricle</a>, but this use is now advised against as the cavum does not usually have any direct communication with the ventricular system.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>A cavum septum pellucidum is present in the normal fetus, but over 85% of them fuse by 3-6 months of age meaning that a cavum septum pellucidum persists in ~15% of the adult population. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The cavum septum pellucidum 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 posteroanteriorly - the cavum vergae followed by the cavum septum pellucidum - and it is not uncommon that both occur together. </p><h5>Boundaries</h5><ul>
+<p><strong>Cavum septum pellucidum</strong> (<strong>CSP</strong>)<strong> </strong>is a <a href="/articles/anatomical-variants">normal variant</a> <a title="CSF" href="/articles/cerebrospinal-fluid-1">CSF</a> space between the leaflets of the <a href="/articles/septum-pellucidum">septum pellucidum</a>.</p><h4>Terminology</h4><p>While the term "cavum septum pellucidum" is generally accepted, it is grammatically incorrect. Since it denotes a space (cavum meaning cave) of the septum pellucidum, the second part (septum pellucidum) should be in the genitive noun case, which would be inflected as <strong>cavum septi pellucidi</strong>. In its accepted misspelling as "cavum septum pellucidum" both "septum" and "pellucidum" are in fact used as adjectives of cavum. However, the term intends to refer to a space (cavum) that has persisted between the "septum pellucidum".</p><p>Historically it has also been called the <a href="/articles/fifth-ventricle-disambiguation">fifth ventricle</a>, but this use is now advised against as the cavum does not usually have any direct communication with the ventricular system.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>A cavum septum pellucidum is present in the normal fetus, but over 85% of them fuse by 3-6 months of age meaning that a cavum septum pellucidum persists in ~15% of the adult population. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The cavum septum pellucidum commonly occurs with, 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 posteroanteriorly - the cavum vergae followed by the cavum septum pellucidum - and it is not uncommon that both occur together. </p><h5>Boundaries</h5><ul>

References changed:

1. Born C, Meisenzahl E, Frodl T et al. The Septum Pellucidum and Its Variants. An MRI Study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004;254(5):295-302. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0496-z">doi:10.1007/s00406-004-0496-z</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15365704">Pubmed</a>
2. Farruggia S & Babcock D. The Cavum Septi Pellucidi: Its Appearance and Incidence with Cranial Ultrasonography in Infancy. Radiology. 1981;139(1):147-50. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.139.1.7208915">doi:10.1148/radiology.139.1.7208915</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7208915">Pubmed</a>
3. Galarza M, Merlo A, Ingratta A, Albanese E, Albanese A. Cavum Septum Pellucidum and Its Increased Prevalence in Schizophrenia: A Neuroembryological Classification. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004;16(1):41-6. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1176/jnp.16.1.41">doi:10.1176/jnp.16.1.41</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14990758">Pubmed</a>
4. May F, Chen Q, Gilbertson M, Shenton M, Pitman R. Cavum Septum Pellucidum in Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Combat Exposure: Relationship to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2004;55(6):656-8. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.09.018">doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.09.018</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15013837">Pubmed</a>
5. Zhang L, Ravdin L, Relkin N et al. Increased Diffusion in the Brain of Professional Boxers: A Preclinical Sign of Traumatic Brain Injury? AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003;24(1):52-7. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8148951">PMC8148951</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12533327">Pubmed</a>
6. Winter T, Kennedy A, Byrne J, Woodward P. The Cavum Septi Pellucidi: Why is It Important? J Ultrasound Med. 2010;29(3):427-44. <a href="https://doi.org/10.7863/jum.2010.29.3.427">doi:10.7863/jum.2010.29.3.427</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20194938">Pubmed</a>
1. Born CM, Meisenzahl EM, Frodl T et-al. The septum pellucidum and its variants. An MRI study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004;254 (5): 295-302. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0496-z">doi:10.1007/s00406-004-0496-z</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15365704">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>
2. Farruggia S, Babcock DS. The cavum septi pellucidi: its appearance and incidence with cranial ultrasonography in infancy. Radiology. 1981;139 (1): 147-50. <a href="http://radiology.rsna.org/content/139/1/147.abstract">Radiology (abstract)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7208915">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>
3. Galarza M, Merlo AB, Ingratta A et-al. Cavum septum pellucidum and its increased prevalence in schizophrenia: a neuroembryological classification. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004;16 (1): 41-6. <a href="http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?volume=16&page=41">J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci (link)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14990758">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>
4. May FS, Chen QC, Gilbertson MW et-al. Cavum septum pellucidum in monozygotic twins discordant for combat exposure: relationship to posttraumatic stress disorder. Biol. Psychiatry. 2004;55 (6): 656-8. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.09.018">doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.09.018</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2794416">Free text at pubmed</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15013837">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>
5. Zhang L, Ravdin LD, Relkin N et-al. Increased diffusion in the brain of professional boxers: a preclinical sign of traumatic brain injury? AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003;24 (1): 52-7. <a href="http://www.ajnr.org/content/24/1/52.full">AJNR Am J Neuroradiol (full text)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12533327">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>
6. Winter TC, Kennedy AM, Byrne J et-al. The cavum septi pellucidi: why is it important? J Ultrasound Med. 2010;29 (3): 427-44. <a href="http://www.jultrasoundmed.org/cgi/content/full/29/3/427">J Ultrasound Med (full text)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20194938">Pubmed citation</a><div class="ref_v2"></div>

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