Lesion guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation (L-RFTC) for hypothalamic hamartomas, nodular heterotopias and cortical dysplasias: Review and perspective

Lesion guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation (L-RFTC) via stereotactically inserted coagulation probes is a further development of stereotactic thermocoagulation thalamotomy and stereo-EEG guided RFTC. In this method epileptogenic lesions detected via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) move to the center of coagulation planning. Two surgical strategies can be applied: lesion disconnection and lesion destruction. This focused review collects all data published until January 2016 on L-RFTC for the indications hypothalamic hamartoma, periventricular nodular heterotopia and focal cortical dysplasia and describes technical issues, surgical objectives and outcomes. Special attention is given to the aspect of presurgical MRI requirements.