I have treated more than ten cases of brainstem glioma using a combination of CyberKnife, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Today, I would like to introduce one particular case that demonstrates the perfect integration of CyberKnife and conventional radiotherapy in treating brainstem glioma.

In this approach, we deliver five sessions of CyberKnife treatment, followed immediately by 12–15 sessions of conventional radiotherapy. The goal is to use the CyberKnife to increase the dose inside the tumor, while radiotherapy targets potential tumor cells beyond the tumor margins.

Recently, a patient with a brainstem glioma came for follow-up. She had undergone CyberKnife combined with conventional radiotherapy, followed later by two additional rounds of CyberKnife treatment. It has now been over four years since treatment. After therapy, her limb weakness improved, although numbness in her right limbs did not.

She is a young mother who, two months before diagnosis, developed weakness while walking and numbness in her right limbs. MRI of the brain revealed a tumor in the left brainstem. When she learned that she had a brainstem tumor, she was devastated and hopeless. Looking at her adorable child, she could not hold back her tears. I felt deep sympathy for this young mother.

I told her that her tumor was of low malignancy, and that we could use CyberKnife combined with radiotherapy to treat such challenging tumors with very good results. I also told her to undergo regular MRI follow-ups, and if even a small recurrence appeared, to immediately receive CyberKnife treatment. She followed my treatment plan.

At present, she is doing very well, living and working normally. Her MRI in August this year showed the tumor had significantly shrunk (possibly due to radiation-induced changes).