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Choroid plexus papilloma is a noncancerous growth in the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid. It can cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Surgery is often required to remove the mass and drain excess fluid. Malignancy is rare but may require further treatment.
A choroid plexus papilloma is a noncancerous growth within the section of the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Most papillomas are very small and cause no obvious symptoms, but a large or abnormal tumor can increase cerebrospinal fluid production and lead to excessive pressure in the skull. The condition is most commonly seen in infants and children under the age of five, but a slow-growing choroid plexus papilloma may not be detectable until adulthood. Surgery is needed when a papilloma causes symptoms to remove the mass and drain excess fluid from the brain.
Choroid plexus tissue is found in the brain’s ventricles, tubes that carry cerebrospinal fluid through the brain and spinal cord. In normal amounts, CSF provides cushioning and protection for delicate brain tissue. If a benign tumor develops in the tissue, however, the overactive cells start producing too much cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid can put pressure on the brain and lead to a variety of unpleasant symptoms.
A large choroid plexus papilloma can cause chronic headaches and frequent bouts of nausea and vomiting in an infant or adult. A baby may be very irritable and unable to tolerate feedings, and their head may enlarge as fluid production increases. Children and adults often experience confusion and difficulty maintaining balance when standing or walking.
A neurosurgeon can check for a choroid plexus papilloma by performing a variety of diagnostic tests. X-rays and computed tomography scans can reveal a growth, and a spinal tap can confirm the presence of excess CSF. Once a tumor is discovered, a surgeon can take a small sample of tissue to make sure it isn’t cancerous.
Medications and bed rest can relieve some symptoms related to a choroid plexus papilloma, but surgery is almost always recommended to prevent long-term problems. First, a shunt is inserted into the skull and directed into the abdominal cavity to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid. A team of neurosurgeons can then perform a delicate procedure to locate and remove the mass. After surgery, a patient usually needs to stay in the hospital for several days so doctors can monitor recovery and make sure symptoms don’t return.
A choroid plexus papilloma only rarely becomes malignant and threatens to spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord. If a malignancy is detected during diagnostic tests or surgery, doctors should consider further treatment measures. You may need a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and drugs to fight the spread of the cancer. A patient’s prognosis depends on how early the cancer is discovered and how widespread it is before treatment begins.
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