Dynamic aspects of expanding cava septi pellucidi et Vergae

Two paediatric patients with expanding cysts of the cava Vergae et septi pellucidi are presented. In the first patient, consecutive CT scans showed a growing cavum thought to be responsible for his dramatic increase in head circumference. In the other patient, the expanding cavum was discovered because a routine skull X-ray after minor head trauma revealed marked impressiones digitatae. Both patients were successfully treated with stereotactically placed internal shunts from the cysts via the lateral ventricle to the subarachnoid space. During this procedure, contrast medium was instilled, and the cysts were visualized on postoperative CT scans. Some dynamic aspects of such expanding cava are discussed.