What is schizencephaly?
Schizencephaly is a rare cortical malformation that manifests as a grey matter-lined cleft extending from the ependyma to the pia mater, it may be either open or closed type.
What defines it to be open type schizencephaly?
In open type the cleft walls are separated and filled with CSF, which differs from closed type in which the cleft walls are opposed.
What is the pathogenesis?
The definite cause of schizencephaly is not certain, but many believe it to result from a in-utero insult in the first trimester. This may be a consequence of illicit drug use.
Huge left cerebral hemisphere open schizencephaly with right sided polymicrogyria. Note also the absence of the septum pellucidum.