Deep brain stimulation of the centromedian thalamic nucleus for essential tremor: a case report

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: VD Sharma, Emory University; Klaus Mewes, Emory University; Thomas Wichmann, Emory University; Cathrin Buetefisch, Emory University; Jon Willie, Emory University; Mahlon DeLong, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-05-01
• Publisher: SPRINGER WIEN
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2017, Springer-Verlag Wien.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00701-017-3143-y
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: ACTA NEUROCHIRURGICA
• Volume: 159
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 789
• End Page: 793
• Grant/Funding Information: Thomas Wichmann: The writing of this article was supported by a grant from the NIH/ORIP to the Yerkes Center (P51-0D011132). Mahlon DeLong: received support from APDA for writing this article.
• Keywords: Essential tremor; Clinical Neurology; Surgery; Case report; CEREBELLUM; Centromedian nucleus; MOVEMENT-DISORDERS; Deep brain stimulation; SUBTHALAMIC NUCLEUS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; BASAL GANGLIA; Neurosciences & Neurology; DISEASE; Science & Technology; PARAFASCICULAR COMPLEX
• Research Categories: Psychology, Clinical; Biology, Neuroscience; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

The centromedian nucleus (CM) of the thalamus is an important site with anatomical connections to different cortical and subcortical motor areas; however, its role in tremor disorders is not clear, although deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the CM has been described to be effective in the treatment of parkinsonian tremor. We report a case of a patient with medication-refractory essential tremor (ET) who had excellent tremor suppression with DBS of the CM. The CM and the nearby region should be explored as a potential target for the treatment of ET and other forms of tremor.