Introduction

Choroid plexus is an epithelial tissue localized in the ventricles and secretes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Intraventricular papillary neoplasms originating from this epithelium are called choroid plexus tumors (CPT) (1). The most common symptoms of CPT in pediatric patients are hydrocephalus, signs of increased intracranial pressure (IICP), seizures, subarachnoid hemorrhage or focal neurological deficits (2). These tumors constitute 0.4-0.6% of all brain tumors. Fifty percent of the CPTs are localized in the lateral ventricle, 40% in the fourth ventricle and 5% in the third ventricle (1). As a result of meta-analyzes of cases published until 1998, it was seen that 45% of the papillomas were diagnosed in the first year and 74% were diagnosed in the first 10 years (3). In this case report, it was aimed to draw attention to choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) by presenting a rare CPP located in the third ventricle that was detected in a 4.5-month-old girl following admission for impaired consciousness.

Case Report

A 4.5-month-old, previously healthy girl was admitted to our Pediatric Emergency Department with complaints of inadequate nutrition, vomiting and drowsiness in the last 2 days. Her body temperature was 36.7 °C, and heart and respiratory rates were within normal limits according to age. There was no abnormality in blood pressure. On physical examination, her general condition was poor and she was stuporous. The patient did not respond to the verbal stimulus and had a response to painful stimuli. Her skin was pale and mucous membranes were dry with decreased turgor. Other system examinations were normal. The patient was immediately hospitalized in pediatric intensive care unit and saline loading therapy was initiated due to presumed dehydration caused by inadequate nutrition. Blood gas analysis, complete blood count and biochemical tests were within normal ranges according to age. As there was no change in consciousness after fluid treatment, the blood pressure was within normal limits and there was no dehydration-related pathology. Imaging was planned for possible cranial pathologies. Because the anterior fontanel diameter was not appropriate for ultrasonography (USG), brain computed tomography (CT) was performed and it was seen that bilateral lateral ventricular diameters were increased compared to normal. In the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, an isointense, multilobulated mass lesion that was located in the third ventricular floor and was extending inferiorly along the cerebral aqueduct on unenhanced sagittal T1-weighted image (Figure 1). There was a homogenous contrast enhancement on enhanced sagittal T1-weighted image (Figure 1). At the same time, the third ventricle and lateral ventricles were enlarged on the coronal T2-weighted image (Figure 2). The diagnosis of CPP was made by MRI results. The patient underwent a shunt surgery for hydrocephalus at an external healthcare center and the patient regained consciousness. Follow-up was planned for the patient and future elective surgery was decided. Informed consent was obtained from relatives of the patient.

Discussion

CPP is a rare congenital tumor of neuroectodermal origin in children and adults (4). Choroidal plexus tumor was classified as grade 1, 2 and 3 by World Health Organization, and they were named as CPP, atypical CPP, and choroid plexus carcinoma, respectively (5). Due to mechanical obstruction, hydrocephalus in CPTs is frequently caused by the spread of the mass and excessive secretion of CSF. As in our case, clinical findings in CPTs, especially in papillomas, are always associated with accompanying hydrocephalus. The symptoms of these tumors include head enlargement, bulging fontanelle, papilledema, diplopia due to paralysis of 6^th cranial nerve, seizures, ataxia, nausea/vomiting, motor and sensory disorders, restlessness and disturbances of consciousness (1). Our patient had inadequate nutrition, impaired consciousness, vomiting and drowsiness. As the fontanel does not close in children under one year of age, symptoms due to IICP are slower and it may present as inadequate nutrition as in our patient.

Differential diagnosis is very important for follow-up and appropriate treatment. The diagnosis of brain tumors can be made by CT, but MRI is the gold standard for treatment planning and follow-up. In CT, CPPs appear iso- to hyperdense in the intraventricular area and sometimes include microcalcifications (6). Bilateral lateral ventricular diameters were larger than normal in CT scan of our patient. The lesion shows homogeneous isointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images in MRI, as in our patient (5).

The first treatment option is surgery. Postoperative radiotherapy is recommended if the patient has undergone subtotal excision and the patient is over 3 years of age. Radiotherapy is not recommended in patients younger than 3 years of age because it may cause neurological complications in the developing brain (1). The patient had undergone shunt operation because of hydrocephalus detected in her CT scan. Because of the small size of the tumor and good prognosis of the patient, no additional surgical intervention was performed and radiotherapy was not applied since our patient was under 3 years of age.

The factors associated with prognosis in CPP are symptoms, the size and the location of the tumor (5). In CPP, 1,5-year survival rates were reported as 90%, 81% and 71%, respectively (7).

Conclusion

Inadequate nutrition and drowsiness are the most common causes of admissions to Pediatric Emergency Department and are usually due to problems, such as dehydration, which can be solved by rapid treatment in the emergency department. Etiologic evaluation must be performed before initiating fluid therapy in patients without signs of dehydration. Cranial pathologies should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients who do not respond to fluid loading treatments and who has persistent impaired consciousness despite stable laboratory findings and vital signs. Transfontanelle USG or cranial CT should be performed according to the fontanel diameter in these patients and MRI should be performed to clarify the diagnosis and follow-up the patient if a pathology is detected.

Informed Consent: Informed consent was obtained from relatives of the patient.

Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.

Author Contributions: Concept - Ö.K.; Design - N.Ü., İ.F.N.; Supervision - M.M.N.E.; Data Collection and/or Processing - M.M.N.E.; Analysis and/ or Interpretation - N.Ü., U.A.; Literature Search - M.M.N.E.; Writing Manuscript - M.M.N.E.; Critical Review - K.K.

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study received no financial support.