AANS Online Scientific Session: Stereotactic & Functional-Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Essential Tremor: Relation of the Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract with Stimulation Parameters

Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Essential Tremor: Relation of the Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract with Stimulation Parameters

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, the presenter discusses the use of tractography in surgical targeting for thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) to control tremors. Structural imaging does not clearly visualize the primary target, the VIM nucleus, so there has been interest in using the dentatorubothalamic tract (DRTT) for target localization. The study evaluated the proximity of DRTT to the active contact in relation to DBS stimulation parameters in 26 essential tremor patients who underwent VIM DBS. Results showed that DBS stimulation influenced the DRTT in the majority of active contacts, and a greater DRTT to active contact distance predicted higher voltage requirements. The data suggests that DRTT is an effective stimulation target and that tractography-based targeting is feasible with current technology. However, further research is needed to address issues like variability in seed and termination regions for fiber tracking and determining the optimal location for stimulation. The use of advanced MRI acquisitions and processing techniques should be carefully considered based on the specific clinical setting. (No credits mentioned.)

Asset Subtitle

Andrew I. Yang, MD, MS

Keywords

tractography

deep brain stimulation

tremors

dentatorubothalamic tract

stimulation target