Overcoming the challenge of a thin skull in a 2-year-old patient undergoing laser interstitial thermal therapy using an individualized stereotactic platform: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Ependymoma is the third most common pediatric brain tumor that can present with headaches, cranial nerve deficits, nausea, vomiting, and ataxia. Current treatment is maximal safe resection followed by radiation therapy. More recently, laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) has become an alternative to traditional resection. In this report, the authors describe the utilization of a single-use, patient-specific stereotactic platform for the treatment of supratentorial ependymoma with LITT. OBSERVATIONS A 2-year-old female had a complex history of supratentorial ependymoma after multiple craniotomies for repeated tumor progression and ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Imaging demonstrated an enlarging, complex, enhancing mass in the right occipital region. LITT was decided on for treatment. Given the thinness of the patient’s skull, which precluded traditional means of stereotaxy, the authors elected to use a personalized stereotactic platform. Immediate postoperative imaging captured complete laser ablation of the tumor, with long-term imaging demonstrating a decreased tumor size. LESSONS Individualized stereotactic platforms are increasingly used in adult populations, but pediatric use continues to be infrequent. In this report, the authors present the youngest reported case using a personalized stereotactic platform and show the effectiveness of this system for performing LITT in the youngest of populations with very thin skulls.