Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy with Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tractography in Patients with Spinal Cord Stimulators and Cardiac Pacemakers

Vivek P. Buch, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Vivek.Buch@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Brendan J. McShane, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Nathan Beatson, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Andrew Yang, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Aaron Blanke, Insightec Ltd., Dallas, Texas, USA.
David Tilden, Insightec Ltd., Dallas, Texas, USA.
Matthew Korn, Insightec Ltd., Dallas, Texas, USA.
Hanane Chaibainou, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Ashwin Ramayya, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kirsten Wombacher, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Shannon Maier, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Tigran Marashlian, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Ronald Wolf, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Gordon H. Baltuch, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Magnetic resonance image-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRgFUS)-based thermal ablation of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) is a minimally invasive treatment modality for essential tremor (ET). Dentato-rubro-thalamic tractography (DRTT) is becoming increasingly popular for direct targeting of the presumed VIM ablation focus. It is currently unclear if patients with implanted pulse generators (IPGs) can safely undergo MRgFUS ablation and reliably acquire DRTT suitable for direct targeting. We present an 80-year-old male with a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) and an 88-year-old male with a cardiac pacemaker who both underwent MRgFUS for medically refractory ET. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST). DRTT was successfully created and imaging parameter adjustments did not result in any delay in procedural time in either case. In the first case, 7 therapeutic sonications were delivered. The patient improved immediately and durably with a 90% CRST-disability improvement at 6-week follow-up. In our second case, 6 therapeutic sonications were delivered with durable, 75% CRST-disability improvement at 6 weeks. These are the first cases of MRgFUS thalamotomy in patients with IPGs. DRTT targeting and MRgFUS-based thermal ablation can be safely performed in these patients using a 1.5-T MRI.

Medical Subject Headings

Aged, 80 and over; Cerebellar Nuclei (diagnostic imaging); Essential Tremor (diagnostic imaging, surgery); Humans; Implantable Neurostimulators; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods); Male; Pacemaker, Artificial; Psychosurgery (methods); Red Nucleus (diagnostic imaging); Spinal Cord Stimulation (instrumentation); Thalamus (diagnostic imaging, surgery); Treatment Outcome

Publication Date

1-1-2020

Publication Title

Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery

E-ISSN

1423-0372

Volume

98

Issue

4

First Page

263

Last Page

269

PubMed ID

32403106

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1159/000507031

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