When a life-threatening diagnosis brought Scott’s world to a halt, he was referred to the Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery at WashU Medicine, where hope awaited. Not only were the specialists who could help him here, but it was also where the innovative treatment that ultimately saved his life was first performed.
In the fall of 2021, Scott Keifer began experiencing unusual brain fog, causing him to temporarily forget the names of family and friends. What seemed like a passing occurrence took a turn for the worse when an MRI revealed a brain tumor in a complex and difficult location.
His diagnosis was overwhelming, and traditional treatments offered little hope. But Scott’s journey took a turn for the better when he was referred to WashU Medicine.
Here, Scott was introduced to Eric C. Leuthardt, MD, and his colleagues in the Taylor Family Department of Neurosurgery — pioneers in neurosurgery and neurotechnology. They offered Scott a minimally invasive procedure called Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT).
“This tool gives us a treatment for patients with tumors that were previously deemed inoperable,” said Dr. Leuthardt in 2010, the year he performed the first FDA-approved surgery using this method. “It offers hope to certain patients who had few or no options before.”
The tool is an MRI-guided high-intensity laser probe that “cooks” cancer cells deep within the brain, while leaving surrounding brain tissue undamaged.
There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t appreciate still being around. And that wouldn’t have been possible
without WashU Medicine.
With the support of his family and the expertise of Dr. Leuthardt, Scott underwent a successful surgery. Within 24 hours, he was back home with his wife, kids and dogs — and a renewed appreciation for life.
WashU Medicine’s innovative approach, combining cutting-edge technology with personalized, patient-centered care, is changing the way brain tumors are treated, offering hope and new possibilities for patients facing similar challenges.
Every medical discovery starts somewhere.
The next one could start with you.
Introducing the Imagine a World Fund — a new way for donors at any level to directly support the groundbreaking research happening at WashU Medicine. Join us in creating even more opportunities for patients to triumph over adversity by making a gift today.