Category: Surgical Therapy: Parkinson's Disease
Objective: We aimed at demonstrating the efficacy profile of MRgFUS pallidothalamic tractotomy (PTT) against the axial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Background: Ablative neurosurgery on the pallidal efferent fiber (field of H1) was a way to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) since 1940. MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) technique provided a precise way to ablate pallidothalamic tract using thermal dose control.
Method: This consecutive case series included four cases suffering advanced Parkinson’s disease. We collected the data from 2019 to 2020. We are using paired sample test to demonstrate the difference in axial score in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). We followed the cases for at least three months.
Results: The UPDRS off medication postoperative axial score was compared to the baseline off-medication axial score, and there was a mean of 3.5 difference for the axial score at first months and a mean of 2.25 for the axial score at three months. Although there was no significance noticed. One out of four patients suffered transient ataxia.
Conclusion: MRgFUS PTT is a safe intervention for PD patients, addressing axial symptoms. We need a more extended observational period and a larger scale of randomized studies to delineate the technique’s efficacy.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
W. Lin, WC. Chang. MRgFUS Pallidothalamic Tractotomy for axial symptoms in Parkinson’s disease in 4 consecutive patients: single center experience [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2021; 36 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/mrgfus-pallidothalamic-tractotomy-for-axial-symptoms-in-parkinsons-disease-in-4-consecutive-patients-single-center-experience/. Accessed October 30, 2026.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2021
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/mrgfus-pallidothalamic-tractotomy-for-axial-symptoms-in-parkinsons-disease-in-4-consecutive-patients-single-center-experience/