Recently, two South Korean patients with drug‑resistant epilepsy received the magnetic resonance‑guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) at SAHZU. Both patients have been discharged and have returned to Seoul.

Ms. Kim, age 43, and Ms. Chung, age 36, had suffered from refractory seizures for over 20 and 10 years, respectively. Their epileptogenic foci were located in the left mesial temporal lobe—a region critical for emotion, memory, and vision. Despite prior surgical intervention (in Ms. Kim's case) and long‑term anti‑epileptic medications (in Ms. Chung's case), their seizure control remained poor.

The referral was facilitated by Prof. Hong from Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, who had maintained close academic exchanges with SAHZU neurosurgery team over the past three years. Following two months of remote case discussions and teleconferences, the two patients were referred to SAHZU.

On August 1,Vice Chair of SAHZU Neurosurgery Prof. ZHU Junming's team performed the procedures using a domestically developed MRI‑monitored semiconductor laser system (LaserRO™). The surgery required only a 3‑mm incision on the head. The system's dual‑wavelength laser (1064nm for rapid ablation of the main lesion, and 980nm for precise boundary control near eloquent areas) allowed the team to dynamically adjust power and duration based on real‑time MRI thermometry, ensuring complete ablation of the epileptogenic foci while minimizing injury to surrounding neural tissue.

Post‑operative MRI confirmed that the ablation ranges met pre‑operative planning targets, with no significant hemorrhage and intact neurological function. Both patients were discharged on the second day after surgery.

The Department of Neurosurgery at SAHZU, established in 1957, consistently ranks among the top five neurosurgical centers in China. Prof. CHEN Gao, chair of the department, commented: "Thirty years ago, we traveled to the United States to learn epilepsy surgery. Now, we believe more international patients will consider China as a destination for advanced medical care in the future.”