Choroid plexus carcinoma

Choroid plexus carcinomas occur within the ventricles of the brain and can block the cerebro-spinal fluid from circulating and draining, causing pressure to build up in the skull.

What is choroid plexus carcinoma?

Choroid plexus carcinoma’s occur most often in one year olds, where the signs of the raised intracranial pressure may be vomiting and lethargy (drowsiness) or your child being unable to look upwards. Their head size may also grow quickly.

Choroid plexus carcinomas are a high grade (grade 3), fast growing tumour. There is an association with the genetic condition, Li-Fraumeni syndrome.They are different from choroid plexus papillomas.

Symptoms of choroid plexus carcinoma

The first symptoms of a choroid plexus carcinoma may, therefore, be pressure headaches, particularly in the mornings.

Treatment of choroid plexus carcinoma

Treatment involves removing as much of the tumour as possible followed by chemotherapy and, sometimes, radiotherapy. This partly depends on the age of the child, as health professionals try not to give radiotherapy to children under 3 years.

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