Study procedures
tumor
TUMOR
An extensive description of the study procedures can be found in the supplements. In short, patients were eligible for the study when suspected of a nGBM and the local multidisciplinary tumor board advised biopsy only (e.g., due to deep-seated location like thalamus, basal ganglia, corpus callosum, or eloquent location or multifocal aspect) or patients did not wish a surgical resection. When eligible, patients were informed about the study and, after written informed consent was obtained, formally included and randomized to receive either biopsy alone or biopsy and LITT, both followed by standard adjuvant treatment. After treating the first 9 patients randomization stopped and the remaining patients were planned for LITT. All LITT procedures were performed with the Visualase™ MRI-guided laser ablation system (Medtronic) using the 10-mm diffusing tip LITT probes. Follow-up consisted of scheduled meetings with the treating neurosurgeons 6 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Follow-up MRI was performed at 3 months after surgery. Patients filled in two quality of life questionnaires (QoL) (EQ-5D and EORTC QLQ - BN20) before and 3 months after surgery.