Gamma Knife thalamotomy for treatment of essential XXXX : long-term results.

@entity1 @entity400
OBJECT: The goal of this report was to describe the safety and effectiveness of nucleus ventralis intermedius (VIM) thalamotomy performed with the Leksell Gamma Knife (GK) for the treatment of essential @entity400 (ET). METHODS: One hundred seventy-two @entity1 underwent a total of 214 VIM thalamotomy procedures with the Leksell GK between February 1994 and March 2007 for treatment of disabling ET. Eleven @entity1 were lost to follow-up less than 1 year after the procedures, so that in this report the authors describe the results in 161 @entity1 who underwent a total of 203 thalamotomies (119 unilateral and 42 bilateral). RESULTS: There were statistically significant decreases (p < 0.0001) in @entity400 scores for both writing and drawing. The mean postoperative follow-up duration for all @entity1 was 44 +/- 33 months. Fifty-four @entity1 have been followed for more than 60 months posttreatment. There were 14 @entity1 who suffered neurological side effects that were temporary (6) or permanent (8), which accounted for 6.9% of the 203 treatments. All complications were related to lesions that grew larger than expected. CONCLUSIONS: A VIM thalamotomy with the Leksell GK offers a safe and effective alternative for surgical treatment of ET. It is particularly applicable to @entity1 who are not ideal candidates for deep brain stimulation but can be offered to all @entity1 who are considering surgical intervention for ET.
