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Occipital horn of lateral ventricle

The occipital horn of the lateral ventricle, also known as the posterior horn, is a slender extension of the lateral ventricle that projects posteriorly into the occipital lobe of the brain. It is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and bordered superiorly and laterally by the tapetum of the corpus callosum, and medially by the calcar avis, a prominence caused by the calcarine sulcus. The occipital horn is most prominent in children but can be visualized at all ages. Its evaluation is important in various neurological and pathological conditions, such as hydrocephalus, atrophy, and congenital malformations.

Synonyms

  • Posterior horn of the lateral ventricle

  • Occipital ventricular horn

  • Posterior (occipital) horn

  • Ventriculus lateralis (pars occipitalis)

MRI Appearance

  • T2-weighted (T2) MRI:

    • The occipital horn appears as a well-defined, hyperintense (bright) CSF-filled structure within the occipital lobe.

    • Surrounding white matter appears hypointense relative to CSF.

    • Prominence of the occipital horn can be noted in conditions like hydrocephalus or atrophy.

  • T1-weighted (T1) MRI:

    • CSF within the occipital horn appears hypointense (dark).

    • The surrounding brain parenchyma appears relatively hyperintense.

    • The margins of the horn are well delineated by the adjacent white matter.

  • FLAIR (Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery):

    • CSF in the occipital horn appears hypointense (dark) due to signal suppression.

    • Periventricular hyperintensities may be seen if there is pathology such as leukoaraiosis or ependymal disease.

    • Helpful for detecting periventricular lesions.

CT Appearance

  • The occipital horn is seen as a CSF-density (hypodense/dark) structure in the posterior aspect of the lateral ventricle.

  • Clearly delineated from the adjacent denser (brighter) brain parenchyma.

MRI images

Occipital horn of lateral ventricle; Posterior horn of lateral ventricle mri 3t axial image

MRI images

Occipital horn of lateral ventricle; Posterior horn of lateral ventricle mri 3t sagittal image