Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is an innovative technique used to treat certain types of epilepsy by using a laser to remove brain tissue responsible for triggering seizures. The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of Alabama were the first institutions in Alabama to offer the treatment.
 
Department of Neurosurgery Professor Kristen Riley, M.D., said LITT can “reduce the number of open brain surgeries for epilepsy.” Riley further explained, “LITT uses a laser beam directed through a pencil eraser-sized incision in the skull. For those cases where it is appropriate, LITT is less invasive, with fewer side effects and a shorter hospital stay.”
 
LITT, which is typically used to treat epilepsy cases where there is a singular-seizure focus, is administered through a small opening in the skull. Using MRI technology to determine placement, the surgeon directs the laser to the appropriate tissue and heat from the laser burns the area of seizure focus. 
 
Department of Neurosurgery Assistant Professor Nicole Bentley, M.D., said, “It is a great option for patients whose epilepsy has a singular-seizure focus. It is well-tolerated with fewer complications than traditional surgery.”
 
Riley and Bentley explained that LITT requires specialized equipment, including close-proximity MRI capability and a dedicated epilepsy program, such as the UAB Epilepsy Center in the Department of Neurology.