Choroid plexus tumor symptoms & treatment

Types of choroid plexus tumors

There are three types of choroid plexus tumors.

• Papilloma (Grade I): Noncancerous choroid plexus tumor that grows slowly and rarely spreads.
• Atypical papilloma (Grade II): These choroid plexus tumors are also benign (not cancerous). They grow slowly and tend not to spread.
• Carcinoma (Grade III): The rarest type of choroid plexus tumor. This choroid plexus tumor is cancerous and it often grows aggressively and spreads to other parts of your brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms of choroid plexus tumors

Depending on the size and location of your tumor, choroid plexus tumor symptoms can include:

• Confusion
• Enlarged fontanelles in infants (fontanelles are the “soft spots” between the skull bones in babies)
• Nausea or vomiting (usually most severe in the morning)
• Personality changes
• Seizures
• Trouble speaking
• Vision changes
• Weakness or loss of sensation in your arms and legs

Diagnosis of choroid plexus tumors

First, your doctor will conduct a physical exam. You’ll talk about your potential choroid plexus tumor symptoms and your doctor may order imaging tests such as an MRI, a CT scan or a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), in which a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample is taken. This helps to show whether cancer cells have spread.

Treatment options for choroid plexus tumors

Your treatment will depend on the type of choroid plexus tumor you have as well as its size and location. Doctors often use surgery to remove papilloma (Grade I) and atypical papilloma (Grade II) tumors.

Minimally invasive surgery for choroid plexus tumors, using a port, involves making a precise, individual plan before surgery that may include the use of brain mapping technology. This is a minimally invasive procedure to access the choroid plexus tumor through a dime-sized narrow channel, or port.

We’ll work with you to develop a plan for your choroid plexus tumor treatment that ensures you the best possible outcome. Surgery might be the only choroid plexus tumor treatment you’ll need. Or your doctors might recommend a combination approach to treat your choroid plexus tumor including:

• Chemotherapy: This approach uses cancer-fighting drugs to stop the growth of choroid plexus tumors.
• CyberKnife^® radiosurgery: A noninvasive robotic system delivers high-dose radiation therapy to choroid plexus tumors with pinpoint accuracy. Cyberknife is a form of stereotactic radiosurgery.
• Neurosurgery: This is the most common treatment for choroid plexus papillomas. If the tumor recurs, you may need follow-up surgery to remove it.
• Radiation therapy: This process destroys cancer cells and prevents others from growing.