Magnetic resonance-guided stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy (SLAH) is emerging as a promising approach for patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy according to a recent review of the literature.
- Laser interstitial thermal therapy that is guided by MRI appears to be a safe, effective way to manage patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy—when used in properly selected patients.
- SLAH is less invasive than anterior temporal lobectomy and allows the surgeon to immediately destroy target tissue, which is not the case with radiosurgery.
- SLAH also has the advantage of allowing the surgeon to remove larger amounts of tissue than can be done with radiofrequency ablation.
- Bezchlibnyk et al state that MR-guided laser thermal therapy is less likely to cause neuropsychological deficits, when compared to open surgery.
Bezchlibnyk YB, Willie JT, Gross RE. A neurosurgeon`s view: Laser interstitial thermal therapy of mesial temporal lobe structures. [Published online ahead of print Oct 27 2017] Epilepsy Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.10.015
