We studied 49 choroid plexus tumors by comparative genomic hybridization. Chromosomal imbalances were found in 32 of 34 choroid plexus papillomas and 15 of 15 choroid plexus carcinomas. Choroid plexus papillomas frequently showed +7q (65%), +5q (62%), +7p (59%), +5p (56%), +9p (50%), +9q (41%), +12p, +12q (38%), and +8q (35%) as well as -10q (56%), -10p, and -22q (47%); choroid plexus carcinomas mainly showed +12p, +12q, +20p (60%), +1, +4q, +20q (53%), +4p (47%), +8q, +14q (40%), +7q, +9p, +21 (33%) as well as -22q (73%), -5q (40%), -5p, and -18q (33%). Several chromosomal imbalance differences could be found that were characteristic for a tumor entity or age group. In choroid plexus papillomas +5q, +6q, +7q, +9q, +15q, +18q, and -21q were significantly more common whereas choroid plexus carcinomas were characterized by +1, +4q, +10, +14q, +20q, +21q, -5q, -9p, -11, -15q, and -18q. Among choroid plexus papillomas, children more often showed +8q, +14q, +12, and +20q; adults mainly presented with +5q, +6q, +15q, +18q, and -22q. Although the number of aberrations overall as well as of gains and losses on their own bore no significance on survival among choroid plexus tumors, a significantly longer survival among patients with choroid plexus carcinomas was associated with +9p and -10q. Our results show that aberrations differ between choroid plexus papillomas and choroid plexus carcinomas as well as between pediatric and adult choroid plexus papillomas, supporting the notion of different genetic pathways. Furthermore, gain of 9p and loss of 10q seem to be correlated with a more favorable prognosis in choroid plexus carcinomas.