Cysticercotic cyst of the septum pellucidum.

A 26-year-old Mexican-American woman was admitted for evaluation of occipital and frontal throbbing headaches. Her symptoms had increased in severity for 5 months and were exacerbated by bending over, and improved by assuming a supine position . CT scanning demonstrated a nonenhancing, rounded, homogeneous mass of cerebral spinal fluid density in the region of the septum pellucidum and anterior third ventricle (fig . 1 A). Cerebral arteriography confirmed a lesion in the septum pellucidum. Because of her deteriorating neurologic status. a decompressive drain was placed in the right lateral ventricle . Conray ven tricu lography with and without CT. was performed (fig . 1 8). A mass. not communica ting with the lateral ventricles, was demonstrated in front of the foramina of Monro in the region of the septum pellucidum. A transcallosal frontal approach into the anterior horn of the left lateral ven tricle revealed a bulging septum pellucidum which produced posterior displacement and compression of the interventricular foramina. Fine needle aspiration of the septum produced clear fluid without evidence of abnormal cells or organisms. A thin cystic cavi ty within the leaves of the septum pellucidum was partly removed and demonstrated several cysticercotic parasites. Marsupialization of the septum and remaining parts of the cyst in to both anterior lateral ventricles resulted in clinical improvement.