Magnetic Resonance–Guided focused ultrasound surgery for Parkinson's disease: A mini-review and comparison between deep brain stimulation

• Published in: Parkinsonism & related disorders Vol. 111; p. 105431
• Main Authors: Ko, Tzu-Hsiang, Lee, Yu-Hsuan, Chan, Lung, Tsai, Kevin Wen-Kai, Hong, Chien-Tai, Lo, Wei-Lun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Deep Brain Stimulation; Essential Tremor - therapy; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound surgery; Parkinson Disease - diagnostic imaging; Parkinson Disease - surgery; Parkinson's disease; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures; Deep brain stimulation; Parkinson's disease; Magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound surgery
• ISSN: 1353-8020; 1873-5126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105431

Magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a new surgical treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous experience with radiofrequency lesionectomy and deep brain stimulation (DBS) has identified several candidate targets for MRgFUS intended to alleviate the motor symptoms of PD. The main advantage of MRgFUS is that it is incisionless. MRgFUS has certain limitations and is associated with adverse effects. The present study reviews the literature on conventional surgical interventions for PD, discusses recent studies on MRgFUS, and the comparison between DBS and MRgFUS for PD. The reviews aims to provide an essential reference for neurologists to select the appropriate treatments for patients with PD. •Magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a new surgical treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD).•The majority targets of MRgFUS for PD are thalamus, subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus interna and pallidothalamic tract.•The main advantages of MRgFUS are the incisionless, real-time monitoring and no general anaesthesia or implantation.•The disadvantages of MRgFUS are the skull characteristics, unilaterality, non-adjustable and relevant adverse effects.•Comparing with deep brain stimulation, limited studies, few patients and long-term benefit uncertainties are concerned.