The use of custom 3D printed stereotactic frames for laser interstitial thermal ablation: technical note

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Device Technology
• 3D Printing Applications

Background:

• Laser interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) is increasingly used for cranial lesions.
• Existing LITT techniques have varied benefits and drawbacks regarding fiber placement.
• There is a need for improved stereotactic methods in LITT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel, customized 3D printed stereotactic frame for LITT procedures.
• To assess the feasibility, accuracy, and efficiency of this new system.
• To compare this method with existing stereotactic techniques for LITT.

Main Methods:

• A customized 3D printed stereotactic frame was designed using preoperative imaging and skull fiducials.
• The frame was attached to implanted fiducials on the day of surgery for LITT catheter placement.
• The system was utilized in 5 consecutive patients, with 2 also undergoing needle biopsy.

Main Results:

• Intraoperative and postoperative imaging confirmed accurate LITT catheter placement and lesion creation.
• Mean operating room time was 45 minutes (26 minutes excluding biopsy cases).
• The STarFix microTargeting system facilitated rapid procedures with extensive planning and no intraoperative fixation.

Conclusions:

• The customized 3D printed stereotactic frame represents a significant advancement for LITT.
• This system offers advantages such as reduced operating time and enhanced accuracy.
• It may become a preferred stereotactic method for LITT, particularly in MRI-suite settings.