Description

Choroid plexus carcinoma is a rare type of brain cancer that occurs mainly in children.

Choroid plexus carcinoma begins as a growth of the cells in the part of the brain called the choroid plexus. The cells of the choroid plexus produce the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and the spinal cord. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As the cancer grows, it can cause too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This can lead to symptoms such as irritability, nausea or vomiting, and headaches.

The treatment and the chance of recovery depends on many factors. These include cancer of the size, the location, if it has spread, and the age of your child and for the general health.

Symptoms

Choroid plexus carcinoma symptoms include:

  • Blurred or double vision.
  • Headaches.
  • Increased fatigue.
  • Irritability.
  • Nausea.
  • Seizures.
  • Vomiting.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health professional if your child has any of the symptoms that worry you.

Causes

It is not clear what the cause of the majority of choroid plexus carcinomas. This type of cancer begins as a growth of the cells in the brain.

Choroid plexus carcinoma occurs when cells of the brain develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, changes in DNA to give different instructions. The changes tell cancer cells to grow and multiply quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue.

Risk factors

The factors that increase the risk of carcinoma of the choroid plexuses are:

  • The young age. Choroid plexus carcinoma can occur at any age. This brain cancer that most often occurs in children younger than 2 years of age.
  • Hereditary syndromes. Some of the choroid plexus carcinomas are linked to certain genetic changes that can run in families, as in the Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose carcinoma of the choroid plexuses are:

  • Neurological examination. During this test, the child's vision, hearing, balance, coordination, and reflexes are tested. This can help to show what part of the brain could be affected by the tumor.
  • Brain imaging tests. Tests to create images of the brain of the child may include MRI and CT scanning. A magnetic resonance imaging also helps your child to the health care professionals to plan surgery.
  • The genetic testing. Some of the choroid plexus carcinomas are linked to certain heritable genetic damage. Tests to identify certain genes are available. Ask your child's healthcare provider about genetic testing and counseling.

Treatment in children usually differs from treatment in adults. If your child receives a diagnosis of carcinoma of the choroid plexuses, ask your health professional to refer you to a specialist who takes care of children with brain tumors. The management of this type of cancer is complex. Find a medical center that has experience with this type of cancer and can offer the latest treatment options for your child.

Treatment

The treatment of a carcinoma of the choroid plexus is often surgery followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both.

  • Surgery.The goal of surgery is to remove all the cancer, when possible. But due to the delicate and important part of the structures can be close, surgeons sometimes can't get all the cancer cells. Other treatments are often needed after surgery. The surgery can help to relieve the symptoms of having an excess of fluid in the brain, which is also called hydrocephalus. Sometimes, a temporary drain placed during surgery to drain more fluid.
  • Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Can be used in addition to surgery and radiation therapy to help control the cancer. Sometimes chemotherapy is performed at the same time as radiation therapy.
  • The radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill tumor cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons, and other sources. Advanced technologies help treat the cancer effectively without affecting the healthy tissues. The radiation may be used after surgery, even if all of the tumor was extirpated with success. The radiation can also be used later if the tumor grows back.
  • Clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies of new treatments. These studies provide an opportunity to test the latest treatments. The risk of side effects may not be known. Each test has strict requirements that each person must meet to be in the trial. Ask your health care professional if you might be able to be in a clinical trial.

Surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove all the cancer, when possible. But due to the delicate and important part of the structures can be close, surgeons sometimes can't get all the cancer cells. Other treatments are often needed after surgery.

The surgery can help to relieve the symptoms of having an excess of fluid in the brain, which is also called hydrocephalus. Sometimes, a temporary drain placed during surgery to drain more fluid.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health professional if your child has any of the symptoms that worry you. If your healthcare provider thinks that your child may have a condition that affects the brain, the person may refer you to a specialist. Often this is a doctor that specializes in diseases that affect the brain and the nervous system, called a neurologist.

Because appointments can be brief, it is a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

  • Be conscious of any thing you need to do ahead of time. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your child's diet.
  • Write down the symptoms that your child, including those that do not seem to be related to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write important personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and nutritional supplements your child is taking and the dose.
  • Have a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be very difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who goes with you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their health care team.

Your time with your health care team is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of their time together. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For choroid plexus carcinoma, some basic questions to ask include:

  • Does my child have choroid plexus carcinoma?
  • What is the scenario of my son choroid plexus carcinoma?
  • Has the choroid plexus carcinoma spread to other parts of the body of my son?
  • Does my child need more evidence?
  • What are the treatment options?
  • How much of each treatment to increase the chances of cure, or prolong the life of a child?
  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment?
  • How will each treatment affect my child's daily life?
  • There is a treatment option which you think is the best?
  • What would you recommend to a friend or family member in my situation?
  • Should my child see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • What is going to determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer questions, such as:

  • When his son did symptoms begin?
  • Does your child's symptoms happen all the time or come and go?
  • How bad are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of carcinoma of the Choroid plexus