What is laser interstitial thermal therapy?

It is a minimally invasive technique that uses laser energy to ablate tumors.

How is the procedure monitored?

MRI is used to visualize the fiber path and monitor the procedure in real-time.

What are the benefits of this therapy?

It allows for targeted treatment while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.

What is the role of thermal protection?

Thermal protection points help confine heating to the tumor and protect adjacent tissues.

What were the outcomes of the study?

The study demonstrated a reduction in tumor size post-treatment, validating the method's effectiveness.

Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Intracranial Tumor Ablation in a Human Patient

JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments

Neuroscience

0 views • 1:20 min • August 7th, 2025

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Begin with an anesthetized human patient with an exposed skull. The patient is diagnosed with an intracranial tumor.

Drill into the exposed skull to create a hole, generating an access point.

Using stereotactic guidance, insert a laser diffusing fiber or LDF along the predetermined path and secure it in place.

Transfer the patient to an MRI scanner and connect the LDF to a laser source.

Capture MRI images from multiple angles to visualize the fiber path and the tumor.

This confirms the LDF’s placement near the tumor, enabling real-time monitoring of the laser procedure.

Set target thermal protection points to confine the heating within the tumor boundary and preserve the surrounding tissues.

Initiate the laser ablation, during which focused thermal energy causes tumor cell death.

After achieving maximum ablation, discontinue the laser.

Perform a follow-up MRI; the reduced tumor size confirms the extent of thermal damage, validating the therapeutic potential of thermal treatment.