Could the Anatomic Variants of the Superior Thalamic Vein (STV) Be Considered a Possible Landmark for Target Identification in Magnetic-Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Procedures? A Pilot Study Using Susceptibility Weighted Imaging Sequences

• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14131409
• Publication Date: 2024-07-02T13:01:39Z
• Authors: Simona Cammaroto; Giuseppe Acri; Valentina Hartwig; Rosa Morabito; Annalisa Militi; Chiara Smorto; Augusto Ielo; Lilla Bonanno; Carmelo Anfuso; Angelo Quartarone
• Keywords: Susceptibility Weighted Imaging; Landmark; T2 weighted; Ultrasound imaging

During magnetic-resonance-guided focused ultrasound ablation of the ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus (VIM) for essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson's disease (PD), targeting is generally performed using a standard atlas-based stereotactic approach. The purpose our work to evaluate anatomic variations in venous vasculature thalamus patients treated with MRgFUS, as possible landmark targeting. We retrospectively evaluated relationship between obtained thalamotomy lesion ipsilateral superior vein (STV). A total 36 (25 ET 11 PD) who underwent MRgFUS treatment were evaluated, STV was studied susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) sequences. Based on axial SWI images, distance center at presumed site VIM measured follow-up MRI images one month after treatment. Statistical analysis shows that there correlation VIM. visible could be used an additional, real-time, patient-specific anatomical identification during MR examination just before FUS