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OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy is a novel, minimally invasive ablative treatment for essential tremor (ET). The use of a four-tract probabilistic tractography technique, targeting the intersection between the dentato-rubro-thalamic tracts (both decussating and non-decussating), while evaluating the corticospinal tract and the medial lemniscus, may obtain immediate clinical results with reduced adverse events. Our aim is to present our experience with the four-tract technique for patients undergoing ET treatment with MRgFUS. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database of consecutive patients undergoing ET treatment in a single center from February 2022 to February 2023. Procedural parameters were collected, and tremor improvement was assessed with the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST) at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. Adverse events were also reported. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (median age, 72 years [interquartile range, 66-76]; 22 females) were evaluated. Tremor improved significatively in all CRST subsections at 3 months, including the CRST part A + B treated hand tremor (22 [19-27] vs 4 [2-7], p < 0.001) and CRST part C (16 [13-19] vs 3 [1-4], p < 0.001). Differences persisted significant at 6 months. Adverse events were few (4.1% of paresthesias and 12.5% of objective gait disturbance at follow-up) and recorded as mild. The median number of sonications was 7 [6-8] and mean operative time 68.7 ± 24.2 min. CONCLUSION: Our data show support for the feasibility and benefits of systematic targeting approach with four-tract probabilistic tractography for treating ET using MRgFUS. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: An approach with four-tract probabilistic tractography for treating essential tremor (ET) patients with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound decreases interindividual variability with good clinical outcomes, low number of sonications, few adverse effects, and short procedure times. KEY POINTS: ⢠The optimal target for the treatment of essential tremor with MR-guided focused ultrasound remains unknown. ⢠Four-tract probabilistic tractography is a feasible technique that reduces interindividual variability, with good clinical results, few side effects, and short operative time. ⢠The four-tract tractography approach can be performed using different MRI scanners and post-processing software in comparison with the initial description of the technique.
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Background: This exploratory study evaluated the presence of sensitization-associated and neuropathic-like symptoms and identified their association with pressure sensitivity, pain, and disability in patients with cervical dystonia (CD). Methods: Thirty-one patients with CD (74.2% women, age: 61.2 years, SD 10.1) participated. Data collected included clinical variables, the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS), the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), the Self-administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), as well as widespread pressure pain thresholds (PPTs). Results: Patients with CD with pain (n = 20, 64.5%) showed higher scores on the TWSTRS disability subscale and the CSI (p < 0.001), and lower PPTs (p < 0.05). Fifteen patients (15/31, 48%) showed sensitization-associated symptoms (CSI ≥ 40), whereas five of the patients with pain (5/20, 25%) exhibited neuropathic-like symptoms (S-LANSS ≥ 12). The CSI and S-LANSS were positively associated with the TWSTRS, HADS-A and HADS-D, and negatively associated with PPTs. HADS-D and S-LANSS explained 72.5% of the variance of the CSI (r2: 0.725), whereas CSI explained 42.3% of the variance of the S-LANSS (r2: 0.423). Conclusions: Pain is an important source of disability in CD, and may be a consequence of different mechanisms, including sensitization.