Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for the Treatment of Hypothalamic Hamartomas: A Retrospective Review.

Department

Neurosurgery

Document Type

Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) are rare lesions associated with treatment-resistant epilepsy. Open surgery results in modest seizure control (about 50%) but has a significant associated morbidity. Radiosurgery is limited to a subset of patients due to latent therapeutic effects. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) offers a novel minimally invasive option.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a single center's outcomes for the LITT treatment of HH.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our experience with LITT for the treatment of HH using our institution's prospectively maintained patient database.

RESULTS: Eighteen patients (mean age, 21.1 yr; median age, 11 yr) underwent 21 total LITT treatments for HH. Mean follow-up was 17.4 mo. The length of stay was 1 night for 16 (89%) patients. At the end of follow-up, 11 of 18 patients (61%) had full disconnection of the HH, and 12 of 15 (80%) patients with gelastic seizures and 5 (56%) of 9 patients with nongelastic seizures were seizure free (International League Against Epilepsy Class 1). Immediate complications included a 39% (7/18) incidence of neurological deficits, including 1 case of hemiparesis. At the end of follow-up, 22% of patients (4/18) had persistent deficits. The hypothyroidism that occurred was delayed in 11% of patients (2/18), as was short-term memory loss (22%, 4/18) and weight gain (22%, 4/18).

CONCLUSION: LITT therapy for HH can achieve excellent rates of seizure control with low morbidity and a short postoperative stay in a majority of patients. Additional research is needed to assess the durability of results and the full spectrum of cognitive outcomes.

Medical Subject Headings

Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hamartoma; Humans; Hypothalamic Diseases; Laser Therapy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Retrospective Studies; Seizures; Surgery, Computer-Assisted; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Publication Date

12-1-2018

Publication Title

Neurosurgery

ISSN

1524-4040

Volume

83

Issue

6

First Page

1183

Last Page

1192

PubMed ID

29346599

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/neuros/nyx604

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