[MR-guided laser-induced thermotherapy in tumors of the head and neck region: initial clinical results].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the value of MR-guided laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) for palliative treatment of recurrent tumours of the head and neck region.


METHODS
8 patients with recurrent tumours of the head and neck region (squamous cell carcinomas n = 6, pleomorphic adenomas n = 2) underwent MR-controlled LITT. A 7 French laser applicator was inserted under local anaesthesia into the centre of the recurrent tumour. A Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm was used. Therapy was monitored on-line using special MR thermosequences.


RESULTS
Preinterventional contrast-enhanced MRI revealed a recurrent tumour of the head and neck region for all eight patients. All patients tolerated the procedures well under local anaesthesia, with no clinically relevant side effects. The MR thermosequences depicted up to 15 mm diameter areas of less signal near the laser tip. Postinterventional contrast-enhanced MRI revealed hypovascularized areas due to the resulting coagulative necrosis. Coagulative necrosis of 4 cc to 28 cc occurred in all patients, and a reduction of clinical symptoms was achieved in five.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained indicate that minimal invasive LITT can be a therapeutic alternative for palliative treatment of head and neck tumours.
Strahlenklinik und Poliklinik, Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
T J
TJ
Vogl
M G
MG
Mack
P
P
Müller
C
C
Philipp
M
M
Juergens
D
D
Knöbber
A
A
Roggan
P
P
Wust
V
V
Jahnke
R
R
Felix
D008949:Adenoma, Pleomorphic / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care
MR-gesteuerte laserinduzierte Thermotherapie bei Tumoren in der Kopf-Hals-Region: Erste klinische Ergebnisse.