TRANS-CRANIAL MRI-GUIDED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND SURGERY (TCMRGFUS): PRELIMINARY ITALIAN (AND WORLD-FIRST) EXPERIENCE AT 1,5 TESLA (first 3 cases treated)

PURPOSE: We present our preliminary results achieved with the first Italian installation of a trans-cranial MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (tcMRgFUS) certified system for functional neurosurgery. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the world-first tcMRgFUS system ever installed on a 1.5T MRI unit. TcMRgFUS is a promising new technology for the non-invasive treatment of neurologic disorders such as Essential Tremor (ET), tremor dominant idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Neuropathic Pain (NP). This is a new method for focal targeting and lesioning of specific regions in the brain through intact skull by using high intensity focused ultrasound beam to achieve thermal ablation and …

Introducing 1,5 T MRgFUS

MRgFUS is a new noninvasive thermal ablation method, consisting of a high focused ultrasound beam and a MR scanner for imaging and real-time thermal mapping. For decades, therapeutic transcranial ultrasound (tcMRgFUS) was assumed impossible. Novel technology using high-power phased array transducers and multiple channel driving electronics enabled a sharp focal point in the planned target through the intact skull allowing the use of this innovative technology for functional neurosurgery. Preliminary results have been published with systems operating with 3T MR units on patients with neurologic disorders such as essential tremor, tremor dominant idiopathic Parkinson's disease and neuropathic…

Trans-cranial MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (tcMRgFUS): preliminary Italian (and world-first) experience at 1,5 Tesla (first 5 patient treated)

Trans-cranial MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (tcMRgFUS): preliminary Italian (and world-first) experience at 1,5 Tesla.

PURPOSE: We present our preliminary results achieved with the first Italian installation of a trans-cranial MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (tcMRgFUS) certified system for functional neurosurgery. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the world-first tcMRgFUS system ever installed on a 1.5T MRI unit. Technical issues faced to achieve a safe and effective treatment will be discussed focusing on MR high-resolution live imaging and thermometry sequences optimization. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Patient enrollment was based on indication for functional neurosurgery and evidence of medication-refractory disease; a detailed medical history has been collected together with a complete clinical examin…

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

Presentiamo i risultati preliminari ottenuti con la prima istallazione italiana di un’apparecchiatura per la neurochirurgia funzionale mediante ultrasuoni focalizzati ad alta intensità su guida RM (trans-cranial MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery, tcMRgFUS); si tratta tra l’altro della prima apparecchiatura tcMRgFUS al mondo mai installata su uno scanner RM da 1,5T. Tale apparecchiatura è destinata a trattamenti di neurochirurgia funzionale di pazienti con tremore essenziale (Essential Tremor, ET), Parkinson idiopatico (Parkinson Disease, PD) prevalentemente tremorigeno e dolore neuropatico (Neuropa- thic Pain, NP). Sanno presentati i risultati ottenuti con i primi pazienti sottoposti …