King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH) has performed Saudi Arabia’s first Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) procedure, expanding treatment options for selected patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy and certain brain tumors. The minimally invasive procedure may be used as an alternative to open surgery in appropriate cases. Among the advanced treatment technologies used by KFSH’s Neuroscience Centre of Excellence is laser interstitial thermal therapy. The procedure involves inserting thin laser fibres through a small opening in the skull and guiding them to the target area. MRI is used to confirm their precise position and monitor heat distribution in real time, enabling the medical team to deliver precisely controlled thermal energy to the target tissue while minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissue. The first patient treated with the technique was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours of the procedure, with no complications reported. The outcome reflects the potential of this approach to shorten hospital stays, support faster recovery, and allow suitable patients to return to their daily activities sooner than with conventional surgical methods, SPA reported. Functional and Epilepsy Surgery Consultant at KFSH in Riyadh Dr. Faisal Alotaibi said the patient was selected following a thorough multidisciplinary assessment involving neurosurgeons, radiologists, and epilepsy specialists to determine whether the treatment was appropriate. He added that the technique enables the treatment of selected cases that were previously considered high risk because of their proximity to highly sensitive areas of the brain. He noted that KFSH is working to expand its use by training more clinical teams and gradually increasing the number of eligible patients. LITT offers a less invasive option than open brain surgery, which typically requires a larger incision and an opening in the skull to reach the treatment site. In appropriate cases, it may reduce the extent of surgical intervention, shorten the hospital stay, and support faster recovery. The introduction of the technique builds on the expertise of KFSH’s Neuroscience Centre of Excellence in diagnosing and treating complex neurological conditions through an advanced program that combines clinical expertise, precision neuroimaging, and minimally invasive surgical techniques to support the selection of the most appropriate treatment for each patient. For patients with epilepsy, the assessment process includes specialized techniques to accurately identify the source of seizures, including stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), alongside neuroimaging and multidisciplinary clinical assessments, before determining whether the patient is suitable for LITT. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre was ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 12th globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centres for 2026. It was also recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East for 2026, according to Brand Finance, and was listed by Newsweek among the World’s Best Hospitals, World’s Best Smart Hospitals and World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for 2026.
