Researchers Develop Innovative Laser to Treat Brain Tumours

Washington University researchers have developed a new laser beam to cook brain tumours. The laser technique could save people’s lives by treating and destroying brain and other types of tumours without relying on surgery. Previously, brain tumours were inoperable.

The Missouri doctors treated a patient who was suffering from a severe and recurrent brain tumour at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is the third hospital in Missouri to destroy brain tumours by using lasers. The patient could not be treated with normal surgery as the tumour was located deep within the brain. The patient had also undergone multiple surgeries. Hence, the surgeons decided to cook the tumour to death as they were not able to cut it.

During the surgery, the surgeons drilled a tiny burr hole into the skull of the patient. The doctors directed the laser probe into the tumour via the brain. The laser beam emitted from the probe at an angle of 90°. The doctor had to heat the tumour and cook it to death at 140°F when the beam is in the exact position. During this process, the surgeons utilized the MRI machine to ensure that the temperature of the neighboring cells was low to preserve healthy cells.