Renaissance of laser interstitial thermal ablation.
Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive technique for treating intracranial tumors, originally introduced in 1983. Its use in neurosurgical procedures was historically limited by early technical difficulties related to the monitoring and control of the extent of thermal damage. The development of magnetic resonance thermography and its application to LITT have allowed for real-time thermal imaging and feedback control during laser energy delivery, allowing for precise and accurate provision of tissue hyperthermia. Improvements in laser probe design, surgical stereotactic targeting hardware, and computer monitoring software have accelerated acceptance and clinical utilization of LITT as a neurosurgical treatment alternative. Current commercially available LITT systems have been used for the treatment of neurosurgical soft-tissue lesions, including difficult to access brain tumors, malignant gliomas, and radiosurgery-resistant metastases, as well as for the ablation of such lesions as epileptogenic foci and radiation necrosis. In this review, the authors aim to critically analyze the literature to describe the advent of LITT as a neurosurgical, laser excision tool, including its development, use, indications, and efficacy as it relates to neurosurgical applications.
Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences, Shreveport, Louisiana;
Symeon
S
Missios
Kimon
K
Bekelis
Gene H
GH
Barnett
D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005910:Glioma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures
EMR = electromagnetic radiation; GBM = glioblastoma multiforme; LITT = laser interstitial thermal therapy; Nd:YAG = neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet; OS = overall survival; PFS = progression-free survival; PRF = proton resonance frequency; TDT = thermal-damage-threshold; laser ablation; laser interstitial thermal therapy; oncology