Laser-Induced Interstitial Thermotherapy of Gliomas

Laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) is a modern minimally invasive treatment modality applied for management of a variety of diseases. Recent developments of techniques for precise targeting of the lesion, accurate delivery of the prescribed therapeutically effective thermal doses, and real-time visualization of the induced tissue damage during the procedure by means of intraoperative MR thermometry have stimulated a number of clinical studies testing LITT in cases of different brain pathologies, including gliomas. This modality is particularly attractive in patients with recurrent, deep-seated, and/or critically located neoplasms refractory to other treatments, where it can effectively demonstrate improvement of prognosis providing high quality of life and eliminating the risks of open tumor resection. Low morbidity rates associated with LITT and short hospital stay result in decreased cost of hospitalization. The effectiveness of thermal therapies, particularly after long-term follow-up, still needs evaluation in carefully planned randomized clinical trials, whereas elucidating the effects of laser treatment at the molecular, cellular, and organic levels will continue to expand the boundaries of its clinical applicability in neuro-oncology.