The introduction of MR-guided stereotactic laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) over the past decade has had a significant impact on the pediatric epilepsy surgery, with potential positive prospects in pediatric neurooncological surgery as well. On the one hand, MRgLITT provides a reasonably safe and effective treatment option for children with epilepsy associated with hypothalamic hamartoma, a condition that is difficult to treat by traditional neurosurgical techniques. On the other hand, MRgLITT also provides a therapeutic alternative to established and effective surgical techniques adopted for other epileptogenic conditions. In addition, in selected cases, such as mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, MRgLITT has been associated with better cognitive outcomes compared to standard surgical techniques, although further and more extensive studies are needed.
While there is an emerging literature on the use of MRgLITT for the treatment of brain tumors in the adult population, there is less evidence regarding the role of MRgLITT in pediatric brain tumors. MRgLITT has several potential advantages over traditional techniques. They include: (1) the ability to treat deep brain lesions with reduced surgical complication rates and (2) a reduced postoperative length of stay. However, how MRgLITT influences the biological behavior of various tumor pathologies and thus long-term clinical outcome is not yet defined.
The aim of this special research topic is twofold. First, to provide, through scientific contributions from the largest possible number of countries in the world, an updated overview of the use of MRgLiTT in the treatment of various pathological conditions that lead to focal epilepsy, trying to understand how this treatment modality can change the therapeutic strategies in pediatric epilepsy surgery. Second, to deepen the possibilities of treatment of some forms of pediatric brain tumors by MRgLiTT, trying to understand if this therapeutic method will change some indications in pediatric neuro-oncological surgery.
The introduction of MR-guided stereotactic laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) over the past decade has had a significant impact on the pediatric epilepsy surgery, with potential positive prospects in pediatric neurooncological surgery as well. On the one hand, MRgLITT provides a reasonably safe and effective treatment option for children with epilepsy associated with hypothalamic hamartoma, a condition that is difficult to treat by traditional neurosurgical techniques. On the other hand, MRgLITT also provides a therapeutic alternative to established and effective surgical techniques adopted for other epileptogenic conditions. In addition, in selected cases, such as mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, MRgLITT has been associated with better cognitive outcomes compared to standard surgical techniques, although further and more extensive studies are needed.
While there is an emerging literature on the use of MRgLITT for the treatment of brain tumors in the adult population, there is less evidence regarding the role of MRgLITT in pediatric brain tumors. MRgLITT has several potential advantages over traditional techniques. They include: (1) the ability to treat deep brain lesions with reduced surgical complication rates and (2) a reduced postoperative length of stay. However, how MRgLITT influences the biological behavior of various tumor pathologies and thus long-term clinical outcome is not yet defined.
The aim of this special research topic is twofold. First, to provide, through scientific contributions from the largest possible number of countries in the world, an updated overview of the use of MRgLiTT in the treatment of various pathological conditions that lead to focal epilepsy, trying to understand how this treatment modality can change the therapeutic strategies in pediatric epilepsy surgery. Second, to deepen the possibilities of treatment of some forms of pediatric brain tumors by MRgLiTT, trying to understand if this therapeutic method will change some indications in pediatric neuro-oncological surgery.