J Neurosurg 142:1014–1024, 2025
Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) shows promise for treating cavernous malformations, offering high seizure freedom rates and significant CM volume reduction. Immediate neurological deficits are a risk but often transient. Further research is needed for long-term outcomes and safety validation.
• Study Objective: Evaluate laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for cavernous malformations (CMs).
• Methodology: PRISMA-compliant systematic review and patient-level data meta-analysis.
• Patient Demographics: 39 patients, 28 with epilepsy, treated at six centers.
• Seizure Freedom Rate: 88% at last follow-up for epilepsy patients.
• Immediate Postoperative Deficits: 15.4% experienced transient neurological deficits.
• CM Volume Reduction: 73.7% for epileptogenic, 53.8% for nonepileptogenic CMs.
• No Perioperative Hemorrhage: No reported hemorrhages during or after procedures.
• Study Limitations: Small patient cohort, limited follow-up time.
• Predictors of Seizure Freedom: No significant predictors identified.
• Adverse Events Analysis: No significant predictors for adverse events post-LITT.
• Radiographic Outcomes: No significant differences based on CM location.
• Pooled Effect Size Analysis: Frequentist and Bayesian models used for volume reduction estimates.
• Future Research Needs: Larger cohorts and longer follow-up required for validation.
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