Common Brain Tumor Treatment Options
Treatment plans for brain tumors often involve one or more of the following approaches:
- Open surgery (craniotomy): A craniotomy involves removing a portion of the skull to access and surgically remove the tumor. It remains one of the most common treatments for brain tumors and is often the first option considered when a tumor is accessible and needs to be physically removed.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation uses targeted energy to damage tumor cells and slow or stop their growth. It can be used after surgery to address remaining tumor tissue, or as a primary treatment when surgery isn’t possible.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife, CyberKnife): Despite the name, stereotactic radiosurgery doesn’t involve incisions. It delivers highly focused beams of radiation to a precise location in the brain, minimizing exposure to surrounding tissue. It’s a strong option for smaller tumors or those in locations that are difficult to reach surgically.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses medications to target and kill cancer cells. For brain tumors, it’s often used in combination with radiation and may be administered orally or intravenously, depending on the treatment protocol.
- Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT): LITT is a newer, minimally invasive procedure that uses laser energy to destroy tumor tissue from within. It’s become an important option for patients whose tumors are in hard-to-reach locations or who may not be candidates for open surgery.
What Is LITT?
LITT uses a small, MRI-guided laser probe inserted through a tiny incision in the skull. Once in position, the laser generates heat that ablates, or destroys, the targeted tumor tissue. Real-time thermal imaging during the procedure allows the surgical team to monitor the treatment as it happens, protecting surrounding healthy brain tissue.
For a full overview of how the procedure works, visit our LITT for Brain Tumors page.
LITT is particularly well-suited for tumors located deep in the brain or in areas that are difficult or high-risk to access through open surgery. It’s also used for patients who aren’t good candidates for traditional surgery due to age or overall health, and for recurrent tumors that have returned after radiation treatment.
Learn more about candidacy on our Who Is a Candidate for LITT page.
Recovery after LITT is generally faster than recovery from open surgery. Most patients return to daily activities sooner and require a shorter hospital stay. Follow-up imaging is used to monitor the treated area and track results over time.
For a detailed walkthrough of the full experience, see our What to Expect Before, During, and After a LITT Procedure page.
How LITT Compares to Other Treatments
- LITT vs. craniotomy: Open surgery requires a larger incision, general anesthesia, and typically a longer hospital stay and recovery period. LITT uses a much smaller entry point, which reduces trauma to surrounding tissue and often means a faster return to normal activity. For tumors in deep or sensitive brain regions, LITT can reach areas that would be extremely high-risk to access through a craniotomy.
- LITT vs. radiation and radiosurgery: Radiation-based treatments are non-invasive, but they don’t provide tissue samples for pathological analysis. LITT, because it involves a physical probe, can allow for tissue confirmation alongside treatment. It’s also been used to treat tumors that have already received radiation and recurred, offering an option when radiation retreatment may not be safe.
- LITT isn’t a universal replacement for other treatments, and it isn’t the right choice for every patient or tumor type. Rather, it fills a specific and important gap: offering a precise, minimally invasive option for cases where traditional surgery carries significant risk or where other treatments have already been tried. In the right clinical situation, it can be a meaningful alternative.
Talk to a Specialist about LITT at Neuroscience Group
If you think LITT might be an option worth exploring, the team at Neuroscience Group is here to help.
Neuroscience Group now offers LITT locally, which means patients in Northeast Wisconsin can receive advanced brain tumor care without traveling far from home. Pre- and post-operative care stays local too, so you’re supported by the same team throughout the process, close to your family and support system.
To learn more about our surgical capabilities, visit our neurosurgery services page.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, Dr. Evan Krueger and the Neuroscience Group team are ready to walk you through your options and help determine whether LITT or another approach is the right fit.
Request an appointment to get started.