The cavum septi pellucidi is formed when the two leaves of the septum pellucidum fail to fuse as the fetal brain matures. When observed at autopsy or by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is often considered clinically insignificant. Using MRI, this study evaluated the prevalence of cavum septi pellucidi in 445 pediatric patients and correlated the findings to the patients' functional level. A cavum septi pellucidi of 1.3 to 12.0 mm was observed in 64 (14%) of the patients. Of the children with cavum septi pellucidi, 12 (19%) were mentally retarded or severely developmentally delayed and 24 (38%) were less severely handicapped. In a random sample of 64 patients without cavum septi pellucidi from the original population, only 14 (22%) had any functional abnormality. The data suggest that cavum septi pellucidi is clinically significant as a marker for increased risk of disturbed brain function.
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Breeding et al. (1991) studied this question.