Choroid Plexus Tumor
Also called: Atypical choroid plexus papilloma, choroid plexus carcinoma, choroid plexus papilloma
What is a choroid plexus tumor?
Choroid plexus tumors (CPTs) begin in the brain within areas called ventricles that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid. As CPTs grow, they block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This can increase pressure on the brain and cause the skull to get bigger.
A CPT may be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous:
- Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) and atypical choroid plexus papilloma are both noncancerous and account for the majority of the choroid plexus tumors. These tumors grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord.
- Choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC), the cancerous form, grows faster and are much more likely to spread through the cerebrospinal fluid and invade nearby tissue.
How common are choroid plexus tumors?
Overall, choroid plexus tumors are rare and represent only about 3% of brain tumors in children.
They are most common in infants but can occur at any age. Choroid plexus tumors account for 10 to 20 percent of brain tumors diagnosed in children from birth to one year of age.
Choroid plexus papillomas (CPP) account for about 80% of all choroid plexus tumors.
Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPC) account for 10% to 20% of childhood choroid plexus tumors.
What are the symptoms of choroid plexus tumors?
CPT symptoms vary depending on the tumor’s location and size and the patient’s age. If your child has a CPT, symptoms may include the following:
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting (that are worse in the morning and improve as the day goes on)
- Feeling irritable and decreased energy
An infant or toddler with CPT may have trouble feeding or walking. The child’s fontanel (the “soft spot” at the top of the skull) may also become fuller.
How are choroid plexus tumors treated?
- Surgery — is the most common form of CPT treatment except in patients who should not have surgery because of their age or health or because of the tumor’s location. The goal of surgery is remove as much of the tumor as possible.
- Most patients with choroid plexus papilloma will need NO further treatment after the tumor is removed completely. Other patients may have a shunt (tube) inserted to drain extra fluid.
- Children with choroid plexus carcinoma undergo surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible. These patients often need more treatment with chemotherapy and radiation to kill cancer cells that remain after surgery.
- Chemotherapy (“chemo”) — uses powerful medicines to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing (dividing) and making more cancer cells.
- Chemo may be injected into the bloodstream, so that it can travel throughout the body.
- Some chemo may be given by mouth.
- Combination therapy uses more than one type of chemo at a time.
- Radiation therapy — uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing:
- External radiation uses machines outside the body to deliver the X-ray dose.
