Radiology Picture of the Day

Fenestration of the septum pellucidum is one of the findings in chronic obstructive hydrocephalus.

Obstructive hydrocephalus, also known as non-communicating hydrocephalus is simply hydrocephalus due to obstruction of CSF flow out of the ventricles.

Frequent causes of obstructive hydrocephalus include:

• -aqueduct stenosis
• -SAH
• -meningitis

Features of long standing obstructive hydrocephalus are:

• -marked dilatation of the lateral and third ventricles
• -thinned and elevated corpus callosum.
• -depression of the fornices
• -the floor of the 3rd ventricle is plastered to the skull base, obliterating the suprasellar cistern.
• -rounding of the infundibular, optic and pineal recesses
• -ballooning of the suprapineal recess
• -fenestration of the septum pellucidum

Treatment options include:

• -shunting, most commonly VP shunt
• -third ventriculostomy

Reference: Primer of Diagnostic Imaging by Weissleder

• February 6th, 2008
• Brain
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