Recurrent nasopharyngeal tumors: preliminary clinical results with interventional MR imaging--controlled laser-induced thermotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-controlled laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) in the treatment of recurrent head and neck tumors.


METHODS
Six patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal tumors (squamous cell carcinoma [n = 4], pleomorphic adenoma [n = 2]) underwent LITT with local anesthesia. A 7-F introducing sheath was inserted into the center of the tumor followed by a specially designed laser emitter. Therapy was monitored on-line with MR thermometry, and the amount of necrosis was estimated with dynamic and static contrast material-enhanced sequences.


RESULTS
All procedures were well tolerated with use of local anesthesia, with no clinically relevant side effects. MR thermometry depicted up to 15-mm-diameter areas of less signal intensity near the laser tip. Coagulative necrosis was achieved in all patients (volume range, 4-28 cm3), and clinical symptoms were reduced in four.


CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging-controlled LITT may be a safe, minimally invasive alternative in the treatment of recurrent head and neck tumors.
Vogl
T J
TJ
Department of Radiology, Humboldt-University of Berlin, Rudolf Virchow Clinic, Germany.
Mack
M G
MG
Müller
P
P
Phillip
C
C
Böttcher
H
H
Roggan
A
A
Juergens
M
M
Deimling
M
M
Knöbber
D
D
Wust
P
P
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000628:therapy; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003287:Contrast Media; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009336:Necrosis; D009339:Needles; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D009862:Online Systems; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media