Ostrava hospital pioneers new laser treatment for brain tumours

Doctors at Ostrava University Hospital have become the first in Czechia to use laser thermal ablation to treat brain tumours. The minimally invasive procedure is intended for a small group of patients whose tumours cannot be removed through conventional surgery because of their location or the patient's condition. During the operation, surgeons insert a laser fibre into the tumour before destroying cancer cells with heat under MRI guidance. Hospital officials stressed that the technique is not a replacement for standard brain surgery but expands the range of treatment options available to patients. Two women have successfully undergone the procedure.