Postmortem diffusion MRI of the human brainstem and thalamus for deep brain stimulator electrode localization.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established surgical therapy for medically refractory tremor disorders including essential tremor (ET) and is currently under investigation for use in a variety of other neurologic and psychiatric disorders. There is growing evidence that the anti-tremor effects of DBS for ET are directly related to modulation of the dentatorubrothalamic tract (DRT), a white matter pathway that connects the cerebellum, red nucleus, and ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus. Emerging white matter targets for DBS, like the DRT, will require improved three-dimensional (3D) reference maps of deep brain anatomy and structural connectivity for accurate electrode targeting. High-resolution diffusion MRI of postmortem brain specimens can provide detailed volumetric images of important deep brain nuclei and 3D reconstructions of white matter pathways with probabilistic tractography techniques. We present a high spatial and angular resolution diffusion MRI template of the postmortem human brainstem and thalamus with 3D reconstructions of the nuclei and white matter tracts involved in ET circuitry. We demonstrate registration of these data to in vivo, clinical images from patients receiving DBS therapy, and correlate electrode proximity to tractography of the DRT with improvement of ET symptoms.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Calabrese, E; Hickey, P; Hulette, C; Zhang, J; Parente, B; Lad, SP; Johnson, GA

Published Date

  • August 2015

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 36 / 8

Start / End Page

  • 3167 - 3178

PubMed ID

  • 26043869

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC4652933

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1097-0193

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/hbm.22836

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States