For the first time, brain tumors do not open the skull

French experts have successfully destroyed brain metastasis with laser beams. This method uses nuclear magnetic resonance imaging technology without opening the skull.

"This is the first time we have used laser technology in the anatomy of the skull, ie keeping the skull closed, and using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging technology to avoid damage to the pulse parts. ", BS.Alexandre Carpentier (Pitié-Salpetrière Hospital, Paris) - the leader of the expert team to perform " the first event in the world neurosurgery " said.

Image of brain taken with magnetic resonance (Photo: Le Monde)

To perform this surgery, the experts numbed a part of the skull by drilling a small 3 mm hole, inserting a laser fiber into the skull.

8 patients who are always alert during the surgery who participated in the clinical trial were carried out under the supervision of the French Health Products Safety Agency.

"Patients with brain metastasis due to different cancers (mostly lung cancer and breast cancer) cannot be treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy . and cannot be opened due to inoperable surgery. If not treated promptly, they can only live for another three months, "said the doctor. Carpentier said. He also confirmed that the treatment results were very positive, "there were no complications (edema, seizures)".

From December 2006 to February 2008, 8 patients were treated according to this new method. In March 2007, the team confirmed the effectiveness of laser therapy, so that they were allowed to expand the scope of treatment (many metastasize, among them, those who were moved). wide base).

Once the tumor was located and the fiber was inserted into the skull, the laser began to activate and heat the metastasis block within a minute or two and destroy the metastasis block. A computer system that allows energy regulation to be released by the laser, the heat is controlled every 3 seconds to not exceed 90 degrees. Heat maps allow recognition of areas that have been destroyed.

"Patients do not feel anything during the treatment process and can often leave the hospital 14 hours later".

This treatment is based on a joint study by Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and BioTex (Texas, USA).

The authors said: "This treatment opens the door to developing techniques for using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging technology".

Doctor Carpentier said he needed 2 million more aces to continue his research with physics researcher Julian Itcowitz.

"We seek to optimize this treatment by using additional ultrasound combined with the use of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging technology , " he explained.