Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), also called ablation, is a minimally invasive brain surgery that uses laser energy to target and destroy small areas of the brain causing seizures. During LITT, a thin probe is inserted through a small incision to reach the affected brain tissue. Then the tip of the probe is heated Show Full Answer

Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), also called ablation, is a minimally invasive brain surgery that uses laser energy to target and destroy small areas of the brain causing seizures. During LITT, a thin probe is inserted through a small incision to reach the affected brain tissue. Then the tip of the probe is heated to burn and eliminate the seizure focus without damaging surrounding brain areas. In studies, over 50% of people who had LITT experienced at least a 50% reduction in seizure frequency. About 15% had their seizures completely stop after LITT. It has risks like any brain surgery but is considered less invasive than traditional resection surgery. People typically stay in the hospital 1-2 days after LITT and return to normal activity within a week.

 This AI-generated response comes from MyEpilepsyTeam and other selected sources. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

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