Stereotactic laser therapy in cerebral gliomas.
The 1.06 micron Nd:YAG laser and a new fiberoptic delivery system, the Interstitial Thermo-Therapy (ITT) laser fibre, allows stereotactic interstitial irradiation of cerebral tumours. In experimental rat brain studies we found typical laser-tissue effects with a central necrosis and a sharply demarcated oedema towards the normal brain. The size of the lesion depended on the energy and exposure time applied. In a pilot series we treated 5 patients with cerebral gliomas WHO grade II-III in functionally important regions and monitored the therapeutic effects by MR imaging and PET scan. Early post-operative results showed irreversible necrotic changes in the tumour centre and reversible oedematous changes at the tumour margin. Long-term results will show if stereotactic interstitial laser therapy is a useful supplementary method in the treatment of malignant cerebral tumours.
Bettag
M
M
Department of Neurosurgery, Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Germany.
Ulrich
F
F
Schober
R
R
Fürst
G
G
Langen
K J
KJ
Sabel
M
M
Kiwit
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D051381:Rats; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*