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Choroid plexus carcinoma is a rare type of brain cancer that happens mainly in children.
Choroid plexus carcinoma begins as a growth of cells in the part of the brain called the choroid plexus. Cells in the choroid plexus produce the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid, also known as CSF. As the cancer grows, it can cause too much CSF in the brain. This can lead to symptoms such as irritability, nausea or vomiting, and headaches.
Treatment and chance of recovery depend on many factors. These include the cancer's size, location, whether it has spread, and your child's age and general health.
Choroid plexus carcinoma symptoms include:
Make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional if your child has any symptoms that worry you.
It's not clear what causes most choroid plexus carcinomas. This cancer starts as a growth of cells in the brain.
Choroid plexus carcinoma happens when cells in the brain develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA holds the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA gives instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions tell the cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, the DNA changes give different instructions. The changes tell the cancer cells to grow and multiply quickly. Cancer cells can keep living when healthy cells would die. This causes too many cells.
The cancer cells form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue.
Factors that increase the risk of choroid plexus carcinoma include:
Tests and procedures used to diagnose choroid plexus carcinoma include:
Treatment in children usually differs from treatment in adults. If your child receives a diagnosis of choroid plexus carcinoma, ask your healthcare professional to refer you to a specialist who cares for children with brain tumors. The management of this cancer is complex. Seek out a medical center that has experience with this cancer and can offer the latest treatment options for your child.
Treatment of a choroid plexus carcinoma is often surgery followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both.
Surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove all of the cancer, when possible. But because delicate and important structures may be nearby, surgeons sometimes can't get all the cancer cells. Other treatments are often needed after surgery.
Surgery can help relieve the symptoms of having too much fluid in the brain, which is also called hydrocephalus. Sometimes a temporary drain is put in during surgery to drain more fluid.
Make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional if your child has any symptoms that worry you. If your healthcare professional thinks your child could have a condition that affects the brain, that person might refer you to a specialist. Often this is a doctor who specializes in diseases that affect the brain and nervous system, called a neurologist.
Because appointments can be brief, it's a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready.
Your time with your healthcare team is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For choroid plexus carcinoma, some basic questions to ask include:
Don't hesitate to ask other questions.
Be prepared to answer questions, such as: