Key Points
- Focused ultrasound was featured in multiple sessions and workshops, highlighting its role in treating movement disorders, pain, and psychiatric conditions.
- Jin Woo Chang, MD, PhD, received the Ronald R. Tasker Award.
- Insightec’s lunch event showcased technological advancements and real-world experiences with bilateral focused ultrasound treatments.
The XX World Congress of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (WSSFN) took place September 3–6, 2024, in Chicago. This biennial meeting gathers global experts in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery and provides a platform for sharing the latest research, clinical innovations, and advances in neurosurgical techniques. Focused ultrasound was included in numerous presentations on various neurological and psychiatric conditions.
“The comprehensive discussions on focused ultrasound at WSSFN 2024 reflect its growing impact and potential across multiple neurosurgical domains,” said Suzanne LeBlang, MD, the Foundation’s director of clinical relationships, who attended the meeting.
Focused Ultrasound Presentations
Focused ultrasound was prominently featured throughout the conference, with sessions spanning across pre-congress workshops, oral presentations, and industry-sponsored events. Each presentation is listed below by date:
Tuesday, September 3
Pre-Congress Workshop on Lesioning Procedures in Functional Neurosurgery (2:00 – 6:15 PM)
- Historical Aspects of Lesioning – From Cooper’s Cryo-Lesioning to HIFU by Michael Schulder
- Brain Lesioning for Pain by Ahmed Raslan
- Evolving Concepts in FUS for ET & PD by Jin Woo Chang
- Lesioning in Psychiatric Disorders by Dwarakanath Srinivas
- Lesioning Using Focused Ultrasound: Principles and Techniques by Vibhor Krishna
- MRI Tractography Imaging for Target Accuracy by Brian H. Kopell
- Lesion Procedures for Movement Disorders by Takaomi Taira
Pre-Congress Workshop on Radiosurgery (2:00 – 6:15 PM)
- GK Versus HIFU in Tremor by Michele Longhi
- Analysis of Connectivity Changes in Anterior Capsulotomy for OCD by Giorgio Spatola
- A Clinical Trial to Investigate Neuromodulation of the Insula for Chronic Neuropathic Pain by Jeff Elias
- Revisiting Cancer Pain with Focused Ultrasound Mesencephalotomy by Jeff Elias
Oral Presentations on Movement Disorders (3:00 – 4:10 PM)
- Optimal Focused Ultrasound Lesion Location in Essential Tremor by Melissa Chua
- Focused Ultrasound Pallidothalamic Tractotomy in Cervical Dystonia: A Pilot Study by Shiro Horisawa
Thursday, September 5
Oral Presentation Session 07: Radiosurgery & Lesions (03:10 – 04:10 PM)
- VIM Lesions in Radiosurgery and Focused Ultrasound: Assessment of the Accuracy of Two Targeting Models Based on Machine Learning by Emmanuel Cuny
- Probabilistic Mapping of Lesion Locations in Bilateral Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomies by Can Sarica
- Investigation of Gustatory Pathways Using Probabilistic Tractography: Implications for MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound by Kazuki Sakakura
Flash Presentation Session 04: Psychiatry I (04:40 – 05:40 PM)
- Non-Invasive MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound for Anorexia Nervosa by Halimureti Paerhati
Friday, September 6
Focused Ultrasound: Established and Emerging Applications Breakfast Session (7:00 – 8:00 AM)
- HIFU for OCD by Jin Woo Chang
- HIFU for Movement Disorders by Rees Cosgrove
- Novel Applications for Focused Ultrasound by Nir Lipsman
Oral Presentation Session 12: Pain & Neurorestoration (03:50 – 04:50 PM)
- Surgery at the Crossroads of Brain Functions: Neuromodulation of Forel H Field on Movement, Psychiatric, and Epileptic Disorders by Shiro Horisawa
Search the entire Scientific Program. Alternately, the full text and author list for each abstract has been published in the journal Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.
Awards
Jin Woo Chang, MD, PhD, professor of neurosurgery at Korea University Anam Hospital in Seoul, Korea, was presented with the Ronald Tasker Award, one of WSSFN’s distinguished achievement awards. The award is presented in memory of Dr. Tasker, professor of surgery at the University of Toronto, who was “a world-renowned functional neurosurgeon, teacher, mentor, and role model who was highly regarded for his clarity of thinking and his indisputable professional honesty and integrity.”
Industry Participation
Insightec’s lunch event showcased technological advances and real-world experiences with bilateral focused ultrasound treatments. The session, chaired by Ahmed Raslan, was titled “New Frontiers in Focused Ultrasound: Indication Updates and Technological Advancements.” Discussions centered around the use of the Exablate Neuro focused ultrasound system for treating the second side in patients with essential tremor. The following presentations were all part of the event:
- Advancing Focused Ultrasound Technology and Expanding Indications by Ahmed Raslan
- Exablate Prime: The Rambam Experience by Lior Lev Tov
- Real World Experience with Second Side for Essential Tremor: A Neurosurgeon Perspective by Vibhor Krishna
- Real World Experience with Second Side for Essential Tremor: A Neurology Perspective by Daniel Roque
RebrAIn, a French software startup that has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm and paired it with a collaborative registry of health data to help neurosurgeons identify operable brain regions in patients with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, also attended WSSFN. The company held a meeting with a group of key clinicians to gather feedback on its Optim MRI software.
Next Meeting
The next biennial meeting of WSSFN will take place September 29–October 3, 2026, in Marseille, France.
See the WSSFN Meeting Website