Patrick Landazuri, M.D., professor in the Department of Neurology, is the lead author of a new epilepsy study published in JAMA Neurology, one of the most prominent journals in the field.  

“Interstitial Thermal Therapy in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy,” published July 7, explores the clinical and procedural outcomes of laser interstitial thermal therapy for patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. In the study, Landazuri and his co-authors describe how laser interstitial thermal therapy — a surgical tool used to ablate epileptic foci and brain tumors — can offer a minimally invasive and safe option to control seizures for patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.  

“This study provides the strongest prospective data to date supporting the durability and effectiveness of laser interstitial thermal therapy for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy,” Landazuri said. “As a minimally invasive technique, laser interstitial thermal therapy can be particularly beneficial for patients who prefer to avoid the risks and recovery associated with open brain procedures.” 

Jennifer Cheng, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, is a co-author of the study.

A professor of neurology and neurosurgery, Landazuri is also the director of the Department of Neurology’s Epilepsy Fellowship. His research primarily focuses on the surgical care of epilepsy patients, with a particular interest in newer methods of surgical care.