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Slit-ventricle syndrome (SVS) seems to encompass various pathophysiological abnormalities, including overdrainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and craniocerebral disproportion after extracranial CSF shunt placement. These pathologies result in small ventricle morphologically, and the ventricular catheter is obstructed by the collapsed ventricular walls. Patients with intermittent headaches, small ventricles on neuroimaging, and slow refill of the shunt reservoir are diagnosed with SVS. In this report, we present a case of SVS treated endoscopically. We detected bulges in a zigzag line on the ventricular walls according to side holes of the ventricular tube, and named them "steppingstone" phenomenon. It is a curious finding which directly shows that the intermittent obstruction of the ventricular tube occurs in patients with SVS. No previous articles have reported this phenomenon, and it indicates adequate treatment for SVS should be provided.

Lateral temporal encephalocele is an extremely rare clinical condition, with only 18 cases presented in the literature to date. No review articles have examined lateral temporal encephalocele in depth. We therefore reviewed past cases of lateral encephalocele to clarify the clinical characteristics of this extremely rare deformity. We also present a case of lateral encephalocele with arachnoid cyst which has never been reported in past reports. We identified 8 reports describing 18 cases of lateral temporal encephalocele. We therefore reviewed 19 cases of lateral temporal encephalocele, including our own experience, and discussed the clinical characteristics of this pathology. All the cases with lateral temporal encephalocele were detected at birth except for an occult case. The majority occurred at the pterion, and occurrence at the asterion appears much rarer. Due to the preference for the pterion, the ipsilateral orbital wall was also distorted in some cases. Lateral temporal encephalocele seems to have fewer associated malformations: only 3 cases of lateral temporal encephalocele had associated malformations, including our case which was associated with intracranial arachnoid cyst. The only case of lateral temporal encephalocele to have shown hydrocephalus was our own case. Patients with this deformity have relatively good prognoses: only 3 of the 19 cases showed delayed psychomotor development during follow-up. Provision of adequate treatment is likely to achieve a good prognosis in patients with lateral temporal encephalocele, so we should keep in mind this deformity when encountering pediatric patients with mass lesions on the temporal cranium.