Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Glioblastoma: A Single-Center Experience.

ABSTRACT Objective Surgical resection has been shown to prolong survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM), although this benefit has not been elucidated for reoperation following tumor recurrence. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive ablation technique that has been shown to effectively reduce tumor burden in some patients with intracranial malignancy. The aim of this study was to describe the safety and efficacy of LITT for recurrent and newly diagnosed GBM at a large tertiary referral center. Methods In this retrospective case series, patients with GBM receiving LITT were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival (OS) from the time of LITT was the primary endpoint measured. Results Sixty-nine patients were identified for inclusion in this study. The median age of the cohort was 56 years (range 15 – 77 years). Median tumor volume was 10.4 cm3 (range 1.0 – 64.0 cm3). A Kaplan-Meier estimate of median OS for the series from the time of LITT was 12 months (95% CI: 8 – 16 months). Median progression-free survival (PFS) for the cohort from LITT was 4 months (95% CI: 3 – 7 months). Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly prolonged both PFS and OS (p Conclusion LITT can safely reduce intracranial tumor burden in GBM patients that have exhausted other adjuvant therapies or are poor candidates for conventional resection techniques.