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

It is sometimes called the fifth ventricle but this term is not in current use as a CSP does not have any direct communication with the ventricular system.

Epidemiology

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

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

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

~~-<li>posterior: anterior limb and pillars of the fornix</li>~~
~~-<li>inferior: anterior commissure and the rostrum of the corpus callosum</li>~~
~~-<li>lateral: leaflets of the septum pellucidum <sup>1</sup>~~
+<li>posterior: anterior limb and pillars of the <a title="Fornix" href="/articles/fornix">fornix</a>
+</li>
+<li>inferior: <a title="Anterior commissure" href="/articles/anterior-commissure">anterior commissure</a> and the rostrum of the corpus callosum</li>
+<li>lateral: leaflets of the <a title="septum pellucidum" href="/articles/septum-pellucidum">septum pellucidum</a> <sup>1</sup>

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