Is there still a role for lesioning in functional neurosurgery? Preliminary Italian (and world-first) experience with a trans-cranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery system operating at 1.5 Tesla

Letter: Thalamotomy-Like Effects From Partial Removal of a Ventral Intermediate Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulator Lead in a Patient With Essential Tremor: Case Report

Chirurgia trans-cranica mediante ultrasuoni focalizzati ad alta intensità su guida RM: esperienza preliminare a 1,5T

Da qualche anno la chirurgia mediante ultrasuoni focalizzati ad alta intensità guidati da Risonanza Magnetica (Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery, MRgFUS) si sta diffondendo anche in Italia per la palliazione del dolore da metastasi ossee, per il trattamento di tumori ossei primitivi (benigni e non), dei fibromi e dell’adenomiosi uterina; sono già stati inoltre pubblicati i risultati preliminari del trattamento di alcuni tumori epatici, pancreatici, prostatici e della mammella mediante MRgFUS. Questa innovativa tecnica prevede l’utilizzo di un’apparecchiatura di Risonanza Magnetica per il monitoraggio della procedura e sfrutta le caratteristiche fisico- meccaniche degli …

Neuromodulation of chronic headaches: position statement from the European Headache Federation

The medical treatment of patients with chronic primary headache syndromes (chronic migraine, chronic tension-type headache, chronic cluster headache, hemicrania continua) is challenging as serious side effects frequently complicate the course of medical treatment and some patients may be even medically intractable. When a definitive lack of responsiveness to conservative treatments is ascertained and medication overuse headache is excluded, neuromodulation options can be considered in selected cases.Here, the various invasive and non-invasive approaches, such as hypothalamic deep brain stimulation, occipital nerve stimulation, stimulation of sphenopalatine ganglion, cervical spinal cord sti…

Restoring Neurological Physiology: The Innovative Role of High-Energy MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound (HIMRgFUS). Preliminary Data from a New Method of Lesioning Surgery

Background Tremor is a disabling condition, common to several neurodegenerative diseases. Lesioning procedures and deep brain stimulation, respectively, of the ventralis intermedius nucleus for intentional tremor, and of the subthalamic nucleus for parkinsonian resting tremor, have been introduced in clinical practice for patients refractory to medical treatment. The combination of high-energy focused ultra-sound (HIFUS) with sophisticated magnetic resonance (MR) instrumentation, together with accurate knowledge of the stereotactic brain coordinates, represents a revolution in neuromodulation. Methods At the Neurosurgical Clinic and the Radiology Department of the University of Palermo,, tw…

TRANS-CRANIAL MRI-GUIDED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND SURGERY (TCMRGFUS): ITALIAN AND WORLD-FIRST EXPERIENCE AT 1.5 TESLA

Introduction: Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (tcMRgFUS) is a promising new technology for the noninvasive treatment of various brain disorders. Here, we present our preliminary results achieved with the first Italian installation of a transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery (tcMRgFUS) certified system for functional neurosurgery. Technical issues faced to achieve a safe and effective treatment will be discussed focusing on MR high-resolution live imaging and thermometry sequences optimization. Materials and Methods: Patient enrollment was based on indication for functional neurosurgery and evidence of medication-refractory disease; a detailed me…