Objective      To investigate and analyze the treatment modalities in large hospitals in Western China in order to provide basis for establishing clinical guidelines for the treatment of pineal region tumors.       Methods      Retrospective analysis of pineal region tumor treatment data of 9 top

large hospitals in Western China was carried out

focusing on the treatment options such as surgery

radiation therapy

their sequence

specific procedures and so on.       Results      A total of 219 patients’ medical records were collected

of which 58 were treated with surgery and 196 with radiotherapy. In the surgical group

tumor complete resection in 52 cases and subtotal tumor resection in 6 cases were found. The radiotherapy group included 99 cases treated after ventriculo-peritoneal shunt or three ventriculostomy

58 cases of direct radiotherapy

and 39 cases of tumor resection surgery followed by radiotherapy. As for the radiotherapy pattern

it was found that 153 cases were treated with stereotactic radiotherapy technique

43 cases with linear accelerator radiation

of which 25 with diagnostic radiotherapy

and 21 cases with whole central nervous system radiation.       Conclusion      Radiotherapy after ventriculo-peritoneal shunt/three ventriculostomy is the most common treatment mode of pineal region tumor

followed by tumor resection plus radiotherapy. There are huge differences in the selection of radiotherapy techniques and doses. The results indicate a lack of specification in the treatment of pineal region tumors in Western China. It is important and urgent to give much concern for the establishment of diagnosis and treatment standard.