King Faisal Specialist Hospital performs Saudi Arabia’s first laser interstitial thermal therapy procedure
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh has performed Saudi Arabia’s first laser interstitial thermal therapy procedure, expanding treatment options for selected patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy and certain brain tumors.
The minimally invasive procedure, which may be used as an alternative to open surgery in appropriate cases, was offered by the hospital’s Neuroscience Centre of Excellence and involves inserting thin laser fibers through a small opening in the skull and guiding them to the target area.
MRI is used to confirm location and monitor heat distribution in real time, allowing doctors to deliver controlled thermal energy while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
The first patient treated with the technique was discharged within 24 hours, with no complications reported. The procedure may help shorten hospital stays and support faster recovery in suitable patients.
