Magnetic resonance imaging: controlled interstitial laser therapy in children with vascular malformations.
OBJECTIVE
Interstitial laser therapy (ILT) is a minimally invasive treatment method for congenital vascular malformations (CVM). This study was intended to show whether or not open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a means of on-line thermometry and procedure control.


METHODS
ILT using a bare fiber and an Nd:YAG laser was applied in 20 children with CVM under open MR control.


RESULTS
With the open MR systems, needle placement and advancement was excellent in all cases. On-line thermometry was possible in 90% of the therapy spots. The 6 week MR follow-up revealed a 76% reduction in tumor size in 14 patients. Clinical symptoms improved in 85% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
MR-guided ILT could become a safe method to treat selected types or selected regions of CVM.
Cholewa
D
D
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Benjamin Franklin Hospital, Free University Berlin, Germany. cholewa@medizin.fu-berlin.de
Wacker
F
F
Roggan
A
A
Waldschmidt
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome