Brief Communication

High-intensity focused ultrasound for noninvasive functional neurosurgery†

  1. Ernst Martin MD1,‡,*,
  2. Daniel Jeanmonod MD2,‡,
  3. Anne Morel PhD2,‡,
  4. Eyal Zadicario MSc3,‡,
  5. Beat Werner MSc1,‡

Article first published online: 13 JUL 2009

DOI: 10.1002/ana.21801

Issue

Annals of Neurology

Annals of Neurology

Volume 66, Issue 6, pages 858–861, December 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Martin, E., Jeanmonod, D., Morel, A., Zadicario, E. and Werner, B. (2009), High-intensity focused ultrasound for noninvasive functional neurosurgery. Ann Neurol., 66: 858–861. doi: 10.1002/ana.21801

Author Information

  1. 1

    MR-Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

  2. 2

    Department of Functional Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

  3. 3

    InSightec, Ltd., Tirat Carmel, Israel

  1. ‡

    All authors contributed equally to this work.

*MR-Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland

  1. †

    Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report.

  2. ‡

    All authors contributed equally to this work.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 DEC 2009
  2. Article first published online: 13 JUL 2009
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 13 JUL 2009 12:00AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 1 JUL 2009
  5. Manuscript Revised: 25 JUN 2009
  6. Manuscript Received: 18 APR 2009

Funded by

  • University of Zurich
  • Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
  • Swiss National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) “Computer Aided and Image Guided Medical Intervention”
  • Private foundation “Gönnerverein des Kinderspitals (Kispi-Ball 2006) Zürich,” Switzerland
  • Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation, Charlottesville, VA

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Abstract

Transcranial magnetic resonance (MR)-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (tcMRgHIFU) implies a novel, noninvasive treatment strategy for various brain diseases. Nine patients with chronic neuropathic pain were treated with selective medial thalamotomies. Precisely located thermal ablations of 4mm in diameter were produced at peak temperatures of 51°C to 60°C under continuous visual MR guidance and MR thermometry. The resulting lesions are clearly visible on follow-up MR imaging. All treatments were well tolerated, without side effects or neurological deficits. This is the first report on successful clinical application of tcMRgHIFU in functional brain disorders, portraying it as safe and reliable for noninvasive neurosurgical interventions. Ann Neurol 2009;66:858–861

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