Fakeeh University Hospital Dubai has achieved a significant clinical milestone — successfully performing an advanced MRI-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) procedure on a 15-year-old patient from Russia, who was suffering from a brainstem glioma, one of the most challenging and high-risk brain tumours encountered in modern neurosurgery.
This landmark case not only demonstrates the remarkable capability of Fakeeh University Hospital's neurosurgical team — it marks a significant step forward in the hospital's position as a regional centre of excellence for complex neurological and neurosurgical care, offering patients across the UAE and beyond access to some of the most advanced brain treatment technologies available anywhere in the world.
The young patient had travelled to Dubai from Russia after conventional oncology treatments had failed to halt the progression of his disease. The tumour — located deep within the brainstem — had caused progressive neurological deterioration, including worsening motor deficits and paralysis, significantly impacting his quality of life and presenting an extraordinarily complex therapeutic challenge.
The brainstem is one of the most critical and delicate structures in the human body. Responsible for controlling movement, breathing, heart rate, and consciousness, it is a region where traditional open surgery has historically carried exceptional risks — including permanent paralysis, respiratory failure, and life-threatening cardiac complications.
For this patient, and for many like him, the options available through conventional surgical approaches were severely limited.
Following the patient's arrival at Fakeeh University Hospital, an extensive multidisciplinary team review was convened — bringing together specialists in neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, radiology, and rehabilitation to carefully evaluate every available treatment option in the context of the patient's specific anatomy, tumour characteristics, and clinical condition.
Given the tumour's location within one of the most functionally critical regions of the brain, the team determined that traditional open surgery presented unacceptable risks. Instead, they elected to proceed with MRI-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy — a highly advanced, minimally invasive technique that has been gaining increasing adoption at leading neurosurgical centres worldwide for carefully selected patients with deep-seated brain lesions.
The procedure was led by Dr. Tommaso Tufo, Consultant Neurosurgeon — Brain and Spine Surgery at Fakeeh University Hospital — using a state-of-the-art stereotactic robotic-assisted approach that combines advanced robotic guidance with neuronavigation technology to achieve a level of precision that would not be possible through conventional surgical techniques alone.
Phase 1 — Laser Fibre ImplantationThrough a skin incision measuring only a few millimetres — smaller than the width of a fingertip — a laser fibre was precisely implanted into the target area within the brainstem using robotic guidance and real-time neuronavigation. The implantation phase lasted just over one hour, reflecting the extraordinary care and precision required when working within such a critical anatomical region.
Phase 2 — MRI-Guided Thermal TherapyFollowing implantation, the patient was transferred to the MRI suite where laser thermal therapy was delivered over approximately one to two hours. Throughout this phase, surgeons maintained continuous real-time MRI monitoring — allowing them to visualise the thermal effect on the tumour tissue in real time and precisely control the treatment zone at every moment of the procedure.
This combination of robotics, neuronavigation, and continuous real-time MRI thermal mapping represents one of the most sophisticated confluences of technology currently available in neurosurgical practice.
One of the most significant advantages of LITT technology is its ability to reach deep and anatomically complex areas of the brain that would otherwise be inaccessible without substantial surgical trauma — while minimising disruption to the surrounding healthy brain tissue that conventional open surgery would inevitably affect.
Real-time MRI thermal mapping allows surgeons to perform controlled, volumetric reduction of tumours with exceptional precision — without the need for extensive surgical exposure, large incisions, or significant disruption to the overlying brain structures.
The result, in appropriately selected patients, is a procedure that offers meaningful therapeutic benefit with a substantially reduced risk profile compared to traditional open neurosurgery.
Commenting on the case, Dr. Tommaso Tufo said:
"Brainstem tumours represent some of the most challenging conditions in neurosurgery because of their location within structures that control critical neurological and physiological functions. In this particular case, conventional treatment options had become limited, and traditional open surgery carried considerable risks. MRI-guided laser therapy allowed us to reach the lesion through a minimally invasive approach while maintaining a very high degree of precision and safety."
He added:
"The successful treatment of this patient demonstrates the potential of modern laser neurosurgery to expand therapeutic options for carefully selected patients who may previously have had very limited alternatives. However, the true significance of this technology extends far beyond a single case."
The patient tolerated the procedure well. Following treatment, he was able to resume mobility and continues to undergo physiotherapy and additional oncological treatment as part of his ongoing, multidisciplinary care pathway — a testament to the genuine clinical benefit achieved through this approach.
While this case involved a particularly complex and high-risk clinical scenario, the outcome illustrates what becomes possible when advanced technology is combined with experienced, multidisciplinary neurosurgical expertise in a centre equipped to deploy it effectively and safely.
Dr. Tufo was emphatic that the significance of MRI-guided LITT technology extends well beyond rare or extreme cases such as this one.
"Laser neurosurgery represents an important advancement in the treatment of selected brain tumours, drug-resistant epilepsy, radiation necrosis, and other complex intracranial conditions. The technology allows us to treat lesions located deep within the brain through a very small incision while minimising trauma to surrounding tissue. Both adult and paediatric patients may benefit from this approach when conventional surgery presents excessive risk."
Conditions that may benefit from MRI-guided laser neurosurgery include:
Brain tumours — primary and secondary tumours located in deep, functionally critical, or previously irradiated areas of the brain where conventional surgery presents unacceptable risk
Drug-resistant epilepsy — historically, many patients with epilepsy that does not respond to medication required open cranial surgery to access and remove seizure-causing areas of the brain. In selected cases, MRI-guided laser ablation now offers a less invasive alternative that combines precision, safety, and significantly shorter recovery times
Radiation necrosis — tissue damage caused by previous radiation therapy to brain tumours can be effectively treated with LITT in selected patients
Other complex intracranial conditions — the precise, controlled thermal ablation offered by LITT technology opens new possibilities across a range of deep-seated neurological conditions where conventional surgical options are limited
For patients across the UAE, the Middle East, and the wider region facing diagnoses of complex brain tumours, drug-resistant epilepsy, or other difficult intracranial conditions, the availability of MRI-guided laser neurosurgery at Fakeeh University Hospital represents a genuinely significant development.
For appropriately selected patients, the minimally invasive nature of the procedure may significantly reduce hospitalisation and recovery periods — with some individuals able to return home on the same day or within 24 hours of the procedure. More complex cases, particularly those involving critical brain structures, may require extended monitoring to ensure optimal neurological recovery.
Most importantly, it means that patients who may have been told their condition is inoperable, or who have exhausted conventional treatment options, now have access to an additional pathway — one that may offer meaningful benefit that was not previously available to them.
You do not need to travel to the United States or Europe to access this level of neurosurgical care. It is available right here — in Dubai, at Fakeeh University Hospital.
The introduction of advanced MRI-guided laser neurosurgery further strengthens Fakeeh University Hospital's position as a regional centre of excellence for complex neurological and neurosurgical care.
By combining advanced imaging, robotic guidance, real-time MRI thermal mapping, and the expertise of an internationally trained multidisciplinary team, the hospital continues to expand access to innovative treatment options for patients facing some of the most challenging brain conditions encountered in modern medicine.
This case represents not just a clinical achievement — it represents a commitment to constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible for patients who need it most.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, drug-resistant epilepsy, or any complex neurological condition — and are seeking expert evaluation, a second opinion, or access to the most advanced treatment options available — our neurosurgery team is here for you.
Dr. Tommaso Tufo and our multidisciplinary neurosurgical team offer second opinion consultations, available within 48 hours.
Bring your scans, your reports, and your questions. We will take care of everything else.
Fakeeh University Hospital is a leading academic medical centre located in Dubai Silicon Oasis and part of Fakeeh Health. The hospital combines advanced clinical care, medical education, research, innovation, and digital health technologies to deliver world-class healthcare services. Through continuous investment in cutting-edge medical technologies and multidisciplinary expertise, Fakeeh University Hospital remains committed to advancing patient care and improving outcomes across a wide range of complex medical conditions.
