title: Ventriculus terminalis in adults: unusual magnetic resonance imaging features and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ventriculus terminalis (VT) in adults is a rare pathology. We report various MR imaging features of the adult VT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients were included in this retrospective review.. All patients had undergone magnetic resonance (MR imaging with a surface coil that used two different 1.5T MR systems. All patients had undergone initial and follow-up MR imaging with contrast enhancement using gadopentate dimeglumine. Three patients underwent additional MR imaging using the echocardiogram-gated spatial modulation of magnetization (SPAMM) technique. If a shift in tagging band during the systolic phase was less than half of the band space, it was defined as a "non-pulsatile fluid". Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed these images, while clinical symptoms and outcomes were statistically analyzed between the treated and non-treated group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases presented an intramedullary cystic lesion in the conus medullaris and showed the same signal intensity as CSF. Three VTs had intracystic septation and cord edema, which were pathologically confirmed after surgery; two of these were associated with kyphotic deformity and spinal arteriovenous malformation. SPAMM-MRI of 3 patients demonstrated non-pulsatile fluid motion within the VT. In the treated group, clinical symptoms improved better than the non-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The adult VT shows some unusual imaging features, including septation, cord edema, and coexistence of a spinal AVM, as well as the typical findings. Surgical maneuvers may be considered as a treatment option in adult VT with progressive neurological symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 135-720, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Tae-Sub
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Seung-Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong-Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Keun Su
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques; D003287:Contrast Media; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA