Probabilistic Mapping of Deep Brain Stimulation: Insights from 15 Years of Therapy.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) depends on precise delivery of electrical current to target tissues. However, the specific brain structures responsible for best outcome are still debated. We applied probabilistic stimulation mapping to a retrospective, multidisorder DBS dataset assembled over 15 years at our institution (ntotal = 482 patients; nParkinson disease = 303; ndystonia = 64; ntremor = 39; ntreatment-resistant depression/anorexia nervosa = 76) to identify the neuroanatomical substrates of optimal clinical response. Using high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging and activation volume modeling, probabilistic stimulation maps (PSMs) that delineated areas of above-mean and below-mean response for each patient cohort were generated and defined in terms of their relationships with surrounding anatomical structures. Our results show that overlap between PSMs and individual patients' activation volumes can serve as a guide to predict clinical outcomes, but that this is not the sole determinant of response. In the future, individualized models that incorporate advancements in mapping techniques with patient-specific clinical variables will likely contribute to the optimization of DBS target selection and improved outcomes for patients. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:426-443.

Functional MRI Safety and Artifacts during Deep Brain Stimulation: Experience in 102 Patients.

BackgroundWith growing numbers of patients receiving deep brain stimulation (DBS), radiologists are encountering these neuromodulation devices at an increasing rate. Current MRI safety guidelines, however, limit MRI access in these patients.PurposeTo describe an MRI (1.5 T and 3 T) experience and safety profile in a large cohort of participants with active DBS systems and characterize the hardware-related artifacts on images from functional MRI.Materials and MethodsIn this prospective study, study participants receiving active DBS underwent 1.5- or 3-T MRI (T1-weighted imaging and gradient-recalled echo [GRE]-echo-planar imaging [EPI]) between June 2017 and October 2018. Short- and long-term adverse events were tracked. The authors quantified DBS hardware-related artifacts on images from GRE-EPI (functional MRI) at the cranial coil wire and electrode contacts. Segmented artifacts were then transformed into standard space to define the brain areas affected by signal loss. Two-sample t tests were used to assess the difference in artifact size between 1.5- and 3-T MRI.ResultsA total of 102 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 60 years ± 11; 65 men) were evaluated. No MRI-related short- and long-term adverse events or acute changes were observed. DBS artifacts were most prominent near the electrode contacts and over the frontoparietal cortical area where the redundancy of the extension wire is placed subcutaneously. The mean electrode contact artifact diameter was 9.3 mm ± 1.6, and 1.9% ± 0.8 of the brain was obscured by the coil artifact. The coil artifacts were larger at 3 T than at 1.5 T, obscuring 2.1% ± 0.7 and 1.4% ± 0.7 of intracranial volume, respectively (P < .001). The superficial frontoparietal cortex and deep structures neighboring the electrode contacts were most commonly obscured.ConclusionWith a priori local safety testing, patients receiving deep brain stimulation may safely undergo 1.5- and 3-T MRI. Deep brain stimulation hardware-related artifacts only affect a small proportion of the brain.© RSNA, 2019Online supplemental material is available for this article.See also the editorial by Martin in this issue.

The decade after subthalamic stimulation in advanced Parkinson's disease: A balancing act.

AIM: The duration of improvement in quality of life after subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD) and the presurgical identification of factors predicting sustained clinical benefits have implications in patient selection and timing of surgery. These aspects were assessed in patients who underwent yearly assessment for at least 7 years after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The quality of life, motor and cognitive outcomes of 25 patients who completed the 7-year assessment, and 12 patients who completed the 10-year assessment, were analyzed. RESULTS: The improvement in quality of life was sustained only for 5 years, while the severity of motor signs and motor fluctuations remained reduced at 7 and 10 years. Tremor and rigidity showed more enduring reduction than bradykinesia and axial signs. The dose reduction in medications could be maintained until 7 years, by which time, the axial scores were worse than that seen at the pre-DBS levels. At 10 years, a higher levodopa requirement and recurrence of dyskinesias were noted. Patients with greater pre-DBS levodopa-responsive motor signs had greater long-term motor improvement. CONCLUSIONS: STN DBS performed in patients with advanced motor fluctuations and severe dyskinesias provide only an average of 5 years of quality of life improvement. STN DBS in patients with motor signs that are less responsive to levodopa results in shorter duration of clinical benefits. The improvements in the severity of motor fluctuations, rigidity, and tremor are the most enduring benefits of STN DBS that last a decade . However, these are offset by worsening axial and cognitive functions, bradykinesia, a higher levodopa requirement, and recurrence of dyskinesias by the end of the decade.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in tuberculous meningitis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is linked to brain edema and infarction, but there is paucity of studies correlating VEGF level with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in tuberculous meningitis (TBM). The aim of this study was to measure serum VEGF level in TBM and correlate it with clinical, laboratory, and MRI findings. Forty patients with TBM underwent cranial evaluation, cranial MRI, and MR angiography (MRA). Presence of exudates, hydrocephalous, infarction, tuberculoma, and MRA abnormalities was noted. Serum VEGF level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared in patients and controls. The VEGF level was also correlated with clinical, MRI, and MRA findings. The median age of the patients was 26.5 years. There was a trend towards higher serum VEGF level in TBM patients (100.7 ± 110.6 pg/ml) compared to the controls (60.6 ± 20.3 pg/ml). There was also a trend towards higher VEGF level in patients with shorter duration of illness (127.5 ± 152.4 pg/ml vs 76.5 ± 40.9 pg/ml), MRI evidence of infarction (131.4 ± 150.7 pg/ml vs. 73.0 ± 41.4 pg/ml), and paradoxical response (122.3 ± 157.6 pg/ml vs. 88.8 ± 50.8 pg/ml). Five patients died, and death was not related to VEGF level. It can be concluded that serum VEGF level in TBM patients is insignificantly higher in those with shorter duration of illness and infarction.

MR angiography in tuberculous meningitis.

BACKGROUND: Infarctions in tuberculous meningitis (TBM) are common but there is a paucity of studies on MR angiography (MRA). PURPOSE: To evaluate the pattern and predictors of MRA abnormality in patients with TBM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with TBM were subjected to clinical, laboratory, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and MRA evaluation. The severity of meningitis, focal deficit, CSF findings, and stroke co-morbidities were recorded. Presence of exudates, infarction, hydrocephalous, and tuberculoma on MRI were noted. On intracranial MRA, occlusion or more than 50% narrowing of proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and basilar artery were considered abnormal. The MRA abnormality was correlated with clinical, laboratory, and MRI findings. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients, aged 3-75 years (median 34 years) were included. MRI was abnormal in 61 (91%) patients; basal exudates in 24, hydrocephalous in 23, tuberculoma in 33, and infarction in 40. MRA was abnormal in 34 (50.7%); MCA was most commonly involved (n = 21), followed by PCA (n = 14), ICA (n = 8), ACA (n = 5), basilar artery (n = 5), and vertebral and superior cerebellar artery (1 each). One-fourth of the patients had abnormality in both anterior and posterior circulations. MRA abnormality was related to hydrocephalous and infarction; corresponding infarct was present in 61.8% patients; 41.7% patients with abnormal MRA developed infarct at 3 months but none with normal MRA. CONCLUSION: Half the patients with TBM had MRA abnormality involving both anterior and posterior circulations and 61.8% of them had corresponding infarcts.

Predicting optimal deep brain stimulation parameters for Parkinson's disease using functional MRI and machine learning.

Commonly used for Parkinson's disease (PD), deep brain stimulation (DBS) produces marked clinical benefits when optimized. However, assessing the large number of possible stimulation settings (i.e., programming) requires numerous clinic visits. Here, we examine whether functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to predict optimal stimulation settings for individual patients. We analyze 3 T fMRI data prospectively acquired as part of an observational trial in 67 PD patients using optimal and non-optimal stimulation settings. Clinically optimal stimulation produces a characteristic fMRI brain response pattern marked by preferential engagement of the motor circuit. Then, we build a machine learning model predicting optimal vs. non-optimal settings using the fMRI patterns of 39 PD patients with a priori clinically optimized DBS (88% accuracy). The model predicts optimal stimulation settings in unseen datasets: a priori clinically optimized and stimulation-naïve PD patients. We propose that fMRI brain responses to DBS stimulation in PD patients could represent an objective biomarker of clinical response. Upon further validation with additional studies, these findings may open the door to functional imaging-assisted DBS programming.