Pediatric Ventriculus Terminalis

  • Etiology: Ependymal-lined fusiform dilatation of terminal end of central canal of spinal cord
  • Imaging:
    — In newborns is cystic structure at tip of conus medullaris extending over 8-10 millimeters with transverse diameter of 2-4 millimeters
    — Later in children it may remain visible as tiny cystic structure
    — In adults is rarely seen
  • DDX:
  • Complications:
  • Treatment: None
  • Clinical: Is normal variant

Radiology Cases of Ventriculis Terminalis

MRI of ventriculus terminalis
Sagittal T2 MRI without contrast of the spine (left) shows normal position of the conus. Near the end of the spinal cord is a focal area of dilation of the central canal of the spine. Axial T2 MRI (right) better shows the focal dilation of the distal central canal of the spinal cord.
US and MRI of pediatric ventriculus terminalis
Sagittal US of the spine (left) shows a central anechoic lesion in the spinal cord near the tip of the conus medullaris. Sagittal T2 MRI of the spine (right) shows a central high signal intensity lesion in the spinal cord near the tip of the conus medullaris. The conus is normal in position. The distal sacrum is hypoplastic.