Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Choroid Plexus Carcinoma: Improving Surgical Safety and Resection Outcomes

Abstract

Choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) is a rare and highly
vascular malignant brain tumour that occurs mainly in
children. Complete surgical resection offers the best
chance of long-term survival, but this is often difficult due
to excessive intraoperative bleeding. Preoperative
(neoadjuvant) chemotherapy has been explored as a
strategy to shrink the tumour and reduce its vascularity
before surgery. In this review, we have summarized the
available literature on preoperative chemotherapy in CPC
and its effect on surgical outcomes. Reported cases and
small series show that platinum- and etoposide-based
regimens can decrease tumour size and intraoperative
blood loss, allowing safer and more complete resections.
However, due to the rarity of CPC and limited data, larger
multicentre studies are required to validate these findings
and establish standardized treatment protocols.
Keywords: Choroid plexus carcinoma, preoperative
chemotherapy, neoadjuvant therapy, gross-total resection,
surgical outcomes