Results of Focused Ultrasound for Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s Disease Published

Published:

Key Points

  • A collaborative research team retrospectively analyzed 123 cases of MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy.
  • The study compared treatment parameters, lesion characteristics, adverse events, and outcomes in a case series performed in the same center by one neurosurgeon.
  • The data can be used to improve future treatment planning and performance.

Lesion Location and Lesion Creation Affect Outcomes after Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy
A collaborative research team led by G. Rees Cosgrove, MD, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School retrospectively analyzed 123 cases of MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy to compare treatment parameters, lesion characteristics, adverse events, and outcomes. All cases in the series were performed in the same center by one neurosurgeon on patients with either essential tremor (n=118) or Parkinson’s disease (n=5). The group was interested in using the data to improve future treatment planning and answered the following questions: Was lesion size, shape, or location related to adverse events? How did higher maximum power and rapid rise to power or temperature affect outcome, treatment time, and edema? Did the acoustic properties of the skull and tissue have any effect? Do these analyses confirm what has been reported in the literature?

“We believe this series to be one of the largest experiences by a single surgeon, which makes the data fairly unique,” says Dr. Cosgrove. “Our results confirm the efficacy of focused ultrasound thalamotomy but challenge us to do even better; namely to achieve enduring tremor control in all patients without any unwanted side effects.”

“Clinicians are interested in how to further improve the efficacy of the procedure, decrease treatment time, and improve safety,” said Suzanne LeBlang, MD, the Foundation’s Director of Clinical Relationships. “This article is incredibly informative for addressing these issues.”

For the answers to the questions above, See Brain >