Choroid Plexus Brain Tumor | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of choroid plexus tumors?
Brain tumors can cause a variety of symptoms in children depending on their size and location. Keep in mind that the symptoms of a brain tumor may resemble other more common conditions or medical problems. It is important to consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
Choroid plexus tumors symptoms are most often associated with increased pressure in the brain and can include:
- headache, generally upon awakening in the morning
- irritability, particularly in younger children who can’t express where they have pain
- increase in head size (seen in infants)
- hydrocephalus: blockage of the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid; pressure can increase in the brain and the skull can enlarge
- nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are often worse in the morning and improve throughout the day
- lethargy
- problems feeding or walking
- enlarged fontanelles, which are the “soft spots” between the skull bones in infants
What causes choroid plexus tumors?
As a parent, you undoubtedly want to know what may have caused your child’s tumor. It’s important to understand that these and other brain tumors most often occur with no known cause. There’s nothing that you could have done or avoided doing that would have prevented the tumor from developing.
One rare genetic disease called Li-Fraumeni syndrome can be associated with choroid plexus tumors. If your child has a choroid plexus tumor their doctors will talk to you about genetic testing for Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Choroid Plexus Brain Tumor | Diagnosis & Treatments
How are choroid plexus tumors diagnosed?
The first step in treating your child is forming an accurate and complete diagnosis. Choroid plexus tumors are most commonly diagnosed from imaging studies and biopsy.
Choroid plexus tumor diagnostic tests may include:
- a physical exam and complete medical history
- a neurological function test of reflexes, muscle strength, eye and mouth movement, coordination, and alertness
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
There may be other diagnostic tests that your doctor will discuss with you depending on your child's individual situation. After we complete all necessary tests, our experts meet to review and discuss what they have learned about your child's condition. Then we will meet with you and your family to discuss the results and outline the best possible treatment options.
What are the treatments for choroid plexus tumors?
Your child's physician will determine a specific course of treatment based on several factors, including your child's age, medical history, the type, location, and size of the tumor and the extent of the disease.
Choroid plexus tumor treatment may include:
- neurosurgery to remove the tumor
- chemotherapy
- radiation
What is the long-term outlook for choroid plexus tumors?
Patients with choroid plexus papilloma do extremely well with surgery. Children with choroid plexus carcinoma have a more guarded prognosis and often require aggressive treatment.
The five-year survival rate for children with CPP is 80 to 100 percent following complete surgical removal of the tumor and about 70 percent with partial removal. CPC requires additional postoperative treatment, with a survival rate of about 60 to 65 percent.
There are a number of standard and experimental treatment options for children with progressive or recurrent choroid plexus tumors. A second surgery may be necessary for recurrent tumors, followed by either chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
How we care for choroid plexus brain tumors
Children with choroid plexus tumors are treated through the Brain Tumor Center at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, a world-renowned destination for children with malignant and non-malignant brain and spinal cord tumors. Our brain tumor specialists have extensive expertise in treating all types of neural tumors, including choroid plexus tumors.
