Jugular foramen schwannoma is an exceptionally rare type of tumor. Patients typically present with hoarseness, and in some cases, difficulty swallowing or choking when drinking water. The following is a case of a patient with a jugular foramen schwannoma successfully treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery.

Eight years ago, the patient developed persistent hoarseness, tongue deviation when sticking out the tongue, and mild tongue muscle atrophy. MRI of the brain revealed a right-sided jugular foramen mass, radiologically consistent with a schwannoma. Given the tongue muscle atrophy, the diagnosis of hypoglossal nerve schwannoma was considered.

The patient had consulted several specialists in Beijing and Shanghai. Most recommended surgical removal, but the patient and family were concerned about potential postoperative complications. They decided to try radiosurgical treatment first, reserving surgery as a backup plan if results were unsatisfactory. After learning that Professor Wang Enmin had extensive experience with such cases, they came to see me for further evaluation.

After reviewing the case and discussing options, I recommended a moderate-dose CyberKnife treatment to shrink the tumor, followed by a second round of lower-dose consolidation therapy once the tumor had reduced in size. The patient agreed to proceed. The first CyberKnife course consisted of three sessions, which successfully reduced the tumor size. A few months later, a second course of two low-dose sessions was performed for consolidation.

Now, eight years after CyberKnife treatment, the patient returned to my clinic in excellent condition and shared her recovery story in detail. Her voice is clear and strong, tongue deviation has resolved, and muscle atrophy has completely disappeared. Follow-up MRI confirmed that the tumor has nearly vanished.

This two-stage CyberKnife approach proved to be highly effective in eradicating the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding nerves. Medicine is a continuous journey of exploration and refinement — through careful observation and accumulated experience, we strive to achieve better outcomes for our patients.

Below are the patient’s MRI images before CyberKnife treatment, the treatment planning scan, and the follow-up MRI from April 2025.