Abstract
Laser interstitial thermal therapy is a relatively new minimally invasive technique that allows for immediate delivery of treatment to an indicated lesion. While ablation of lesions without a craniotomy may be appealing, LITT carries its own set of risks and complications. Here, we illustrate three cases that feature the most commonly reported LITT-associated complications – misplacement of the laser fiber, hematoma from laser insertion, and hyperthermic injury. Morbidities from LITT complications ranged from transient aphasia to intracerebral/ventricular hemorrhage. There is evidence that the use of a stereotactic frame and intraoperative MRI throughout the procedure may prevent the incidence of complications; however, no large series examining complication rate of various techniques has been conducted. When performed with the necessary attention to technical and clinical detail, LITT is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that can be an effective alternative to open surgery.
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Schulder, M., Kleiner, N. (2020). Complications of LITT. In: Chiang, V., Danish, S., Gross, R. (eds) Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy in Neurosurgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48047-9_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48047-9_4
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