J Korean Radiol Soc.  1994 Sep;31(3):399-404.

MR Findings of Stereotactic Radiofrequency VlM-Thalamotomy

• Lee YS
• Kim HS
• Hwang HY
• Yang JH
• Kim SJ
• Lee U

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the role of the MRI after the stereotactic radiofrequency ventralis intermedius nucleus (VIM) thalamotomy for the treatment of tremor.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
156 cases of the postthalamotomy MR findings were analized retrospectively. The sagittal T1 weighted image(WI), axial and coronal Proton and T2WI were obtained by using 0.38 T(Resonex Sunnyvale, U. S. A) machine. The interval between thalamotomy and MR examination was from 3 days to 2 months. The MR characteristics and complications related to thalamotomy were reviewed. In 16 cases, a follow-up MR was done 3 to 13 months after the initial MR study. We also reviewed the follow-up MR findings.
RESULTS
The mean size of the thalamus lesion was 16 mm. The thalamus lesions were noted as a single layer in 23 cases and as layers of different signal intensity in 100 cases;(2 layers in 84 cases, and 3 or more layers in 16 cases). In 74 cases of the 84 cases with 2 layers, the inner layer was isointense with gray matter on T1WI, hypointense on T2WI, and the outer layer was hypointense on T1WI, hyperintense on T2WI. There were extrathalamic lesions that were related to mistargetting of stereotactic radiofrequency. The locations of the extrathalamic lesions were the posterior limb of the internal capsule(119 cases), the posterior limb of the internal capsule and the midbrain(39 cases), the posterior limb of the internal capsule and the basal ganglia(11 cases), and the midbrain(9 cases). In 5 cases of the mistargetting, double radiofrequency lesions were visualized because of the repeated coagulation. The other complications were intracerebral hemorrhage(2 cases), subdural hemorrhage(2 cases), epidural hemorrhage(1 case), and intraventricular hemorrhage(1 case). On the follow up MR studies(16 cases), 2 cases showed the hemosiderin deposition in periphery of the lesion.
CONCLUSION
The MRI was useful for the evaluation of the thalamic lesions and complications after the stereotactic radiofrequency VIM-thalamotomy for the treatment of tremor.

MeSH Terms

Extremities
Follow-Up Studies
Hemosiderin
Internal Capsule
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Protons
Retrospective Studies
Thalamus
Tremor
Hemosiderin
Protons