Therapeutic approach to choroid plexus tumors of infants: single center experience

Purpose: Choroid plexus develops at the 6th week of gestation from neuroepithelial lining. Choroid plexus tumors, originating from these cells have wide spectral hystological and biological features. They constitute 0,2-1% of intracranial tumors. They almost mostly present with raised intracranial pressure symptoms. Computeried tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are essential in diagnosis. Therapy is gross total resection. The aim of this study is to present a rare case with diffuse villous hyperplasia filling both of the lateral ventricles and the third ventricle and to discuss the therapeudic approach and surgical results of choroid plexus tumors. Materials and Methods: Between 2011 and 2017 we performed surgery to 11 patients; 9 with choroid plexus papilloma, 1 with atypical choroid plexus papilloma and 1 with diffuse villous hyperplasia. The youngest patient was two months old, the oldest one was 12 months and the average age was 8.6 months. Four cases were female, seven were male. The tumor was at the left lateral ventricle in seven and at the right lateral ventricle in three cases. The tumor was at the both lateral ventricles and third ventricle in one case. All of the cases were diagnosed and followed up with radiological investigations. Results: All of our patients presented with raised intracranial pressure and 3 of them underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt application because of hydrocephalus. Average postoperative follow up period is 3.6 years and all the cases are alive. Conclusion: Gross total excision is essential for choroid plexus tumors.