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Labate A, Bertino S, Morabito R, Smorto C, Militi A, Cammaroto S, Anfuso C, Tomaiuolo F, Tonin P, Marino S, Cerasa A, Quartarone A. MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound for Refractory Epilepsy: Where Are We Now? J Clin Med 2023; 12:7070. [PMID: 38002683 PMCID: PMC10672423 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12227070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in both adults and children. Despite improvements in medical care, 20 to 30% of patients are still resistant to the best medical treatment. The quality of life, neurologic morbidity, and even mortality of patients are significantly impacted by medically intractable epilepsy. Nowadays, conservative therapeutic approaches consist of increasing medication dosage, changing to a different anti-seizure drug as monotherapy, and combining different antiseizure drugs using an add-on strategy. However, such measures may not be sufficient to efficiently control seizure recurrence. Resective surgery, ablative procedures and non-resective neuromodulatory (deep-brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation) treatments are the available treatments for these kinds of patients. However, invasive procedures may involve lengthy inpatient stays for the patients, risks of long-term neurological impairment, general anesthesia, and other possible surgery-related complications (i.e., hemorrhage or infection). In the last few years, MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has been proposed as an emerging treatment for neurological diseases because of technological advancements and the goal of minimally invasive neurosurgery. By outlining the current knowledge obtained from both preclinical and clinical studies and discussing the technical opportunities of this therapy for particular epileptic phenotypes, in this perspective review, we explore the various mechanisms and potential applications (thermoablation, blood-brain barrier opening for drug delivery, neuromodulation) of high- and low-intensity ultrasound, highlighting possible novel strategies to treat drug-resistant epileptic patients who are not eligible or do not accept currently established surgical approaches. Taken together, the available studies support a possible role for lesional treatment over the anterior thalamus with high-intensity ultrasound and neuromodulation of the hippocampus via low-intensity ultrasound in refractory epilepsy. However, more studies, likely conceiving epilepsy as a network disorder and bridging together different scales and modalities, are required to make ultrasound delivery strategies meaningful, effective, and safe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Labate
- Neurophysiopathology and Movement Disorders Unit, BIOMORF Department, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy;
| | - Salvatore Bertino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (S.B.); (F.T.)
| | - Rosa Morabito
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Chiara Smorto
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Annalisa Militi
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Simona Cammaroto
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Carmelo Anfuso
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Francesco Tomaiuolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (S.B.); (F.T.)
| | | | - Silvia Marino
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Antonio Cerasa
- S.Anna Institute, 88900 Crotone, Italy;
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
- Pharmacotechnology Documentation and Transfer Unit, Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health Science and Nutrition, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Angelo Quartarone
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
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Giammalva GR, Musso S, Salvaggio G, Pino MA, Gerardi RM, Umana GE, Midiri M, Iacopino DG, Maugeri R. Coplanar Indirect-Navigated Intraoperative Ultrasound: Matching Un-navigated Probes With Neuronavigation During Neurosurgical Procedures. How We Do It. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2021; 21:485-490. [PMID: 34498674 DOI: 10.1093/ons/opab316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) is becoming more and more adopted in neurosurgery, since it has been associated to greater extent of resection (EOR) and to gross total resection (GTR) during brain tumor surgery. IOUS main limitations are spatial resolution, width and orientation of the field of view and scan quality, which are operator-dependent. Furthermore, most neurosurgeons are not confident with this technique, which needs a long learning curve in order to identify and interpret anatomic structures. OBJECTIVE To describe an effective procedure to take advantages of both IOUS and neuronavigation in case of lack of a navigated ultrasound system. METHODS We propose a reliable "indirect-navigated" technique which is based on the optical tracking of un-navigated IOUS probe by the use of a multipurpose passive tracker and a proper configuration of common neuronavigation system. RESULTS Navigated IOUS is not available in all neurosurgical operating rooms but ultrasound systems are common tools in many hospital facilities and neuronavigation systems are common in almost all the neurosurgical operating rooms. The proposed indirect-navigated technique shows some paramount advantages: since almost all the neurosurgical operating rooms are provided with a neuronavigation system, the only tool needed is the ultrasonography. Therefore, this procedure is largely accessible and costless, reliable, and may improve the neurosurgeon's ability in ultrasonographic anatomy. CONCLUSION This technique is based on the coplanar and coupled use of both un-navigated IOUS probe and standard optical neuronavigation, in order to allow the intraoperative navigation of IOUS images when a navigated ultrasound system is not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Roberto Giammalva
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sofia Musso
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Salvaggio
- Section of Radiology, Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Angela Pino
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Gerardi
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Emmanuele Umana
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cannizzaro Hospital, Trauma Center, Gamma Knife Center, Catania, Italy
| | - Massimo Midiri
- Section of Radiology, Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Domenico Gerardo Iacopino
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosario Maugeri
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Biomedicine Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Giammalva GR, Gagliardo C, Marrone S, Paolini F, Gerardi RM, Umana GE, Yağmurlu K, Chaurasia B, Scalia G, Midiri F, La Grutta L, Basile L, Gulì C, Messina D, Pino MA, Graziano F, Tumbiolo S, Iacopino DG, Maugeri R. Focused Ultrasound in Neuroscience. State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Brain Sci 2021; 11:84. [PMID: 33435152 PMCID: PMC7827488 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11010084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial MR-guided Focused ultrasound (tcMRgFUS) is a surgical procedure that adopts focused ultrasounds beam towards a specific therapeutic target through the intact skull. The convergence of focused ultrasound beams onto the target produces tissue effects through released energy. Regarding neurosurgical applications, tcMRgFUS has been successfully adopted as a non-invasive procedure for ablative purposes such as thalamotomy, pallidotomy, and subthalamotomy for movement disorders. Several studies confirmed the effectiveness of tcMRgFUS in the treatment of several neurological conditions, ranging from motor disorders to psychiatric disorders. Moreover, using low-frequencies tcMRgFUS systems temporarily disrupts the blood-brain barrier, making this procedure suitable in neuro-oncology and neurodegenerative disease for controlled drug delivery. Nowadays, tcMRgFUS represents one of the most promising and fascinating technologies in neuroscience. Since it is an emerging technology, tcMRgFUS is still the subject of countless disparate studies, even if its effectiveness has been already proven in many experimental and therapeutic fields. Therefore, although many studies have been carried out, many others are still needed to increase the degree of knowledge of the innumerable potentials of tcMRgFUS and thus expand the future fields of application of this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Roberto Giammalva
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | - Cesare Gagliardo
- Section of Radiological Sciences, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (C.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Salvatore Marrone
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | - Federica Paolini
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | - Rosa Maria Gerardi
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | | | - Kaan Yağmurlu
- Departments of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA;
| | - Bipin Chaurasia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Clinic, Birgunj 44300, Nepal;
| | - Gianluca Scalia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Highly Specialized Hospital of National Importance “Garibaldi”, 95122 Catania, Italy; (G.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Federico Midiri
- Section of Radiological Sciences, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (C.G.); (F.M.)
| | - Ludovico La Grutta
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties-ProMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Luigi Basile
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | - Carlo Gulì
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | - Domenico Messina
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | - Maria Angela Pino
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | - Francesca Graziano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Highly Specialized Hospital of National Importance “Garibaldi”, 95122 Catania, Italy; (G.S.); (F.G.)
| | - Silvana Tumbiolo
- Division of Neurosurgery, Villa Sofia Hospital, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Domenico Gerardo Iacopino
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
| | - Rosario Maugeri
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences & Advanced Diagnostics, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.R.G.); (S.M.); (F.P.); (R.M.G.); (L.B.); (C.G.); (D.M.); (M.A.P.); (D.G.I.); (R.M.)
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