title: Laser-induced thermotherapy of neoplastic lesions in the brain--underlying tissue alterations, MRI-monitoring and clinical applicability.
abstract: Laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive neurosurgical approach to the stereotactic treatment of brain tumors in poorly accessible regions. Its clinical applicability has been shown in several experimental and clinical studies under on-line monitoring by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This review characterizes LITT as an alternative neurosurgical approach with specific focus on the typical histological alterations and ultrastructural cellular changes following laser irradiation in the central nervous system. The spatial and temporal pattern of these changes is discussed in their relevance to the neurosurgical treatment of neoplastic lesions using LITT.
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Vitzthum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldammer
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schober
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques