Cerebello-Thalamo-Cortical MR Spectroscopy in Patients with Essential Tremor Undergoing MRgFUS Thalamotomy: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Previous literature studies explored the association between brain neurometabolic changes detected by MR spectroscopy and symptoms in patients with tremor, as well as the outcome after deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatment. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the possible changes in cerebello-thalamo-cortical neurometabolic findings using MR spectroscopy in patients submitted to MRgFUS thalamotomy. For this pilot study, we enrolled 10 ET patients eligible for MRgFUS thalamotomy. All patients were preoperatively submitted to 3T MR spectroscopy. Single-voxel MRS measurements were performed at the level of the thalamus contralateral to the treated side and the ipsilateral cerebellar dentate nucleus. Multivoxel acquisition was used for MRS at the level of the contralateral motor cortex. At the 6-month follow-up after treatment, we found a statistically significant increase in the Cho/Cr ratio at the level of the thalamus, a significant increase of the NAA/Cr ratio at the level of the dentate nucleus and a significant decrease of the NAA/Cho ratio at the level of the motor cortex. We found a significant positive correlation between cortical NAA/Cr and clinical improvement (i.e., tremor reduction) after treatment. A significant negative correlation was found between clinical improvement and thalamic and cerebellar NAA/Cr. Confirming some previous literature observations, our preliminary results revealed neurometabolic changes and suggest a possible prognostic role of the MRS assessment in patients with ET treated by MRgFUS.