Transient changes in blood-brain barrier permeability after FUS thalamotomy

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Abstract

The study presents an observation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data changes and clinical manifestations in a patient who underwent MRI-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) thalamotomy for upper limb tremor treatment. A 69-year-old patient with Parkinson’s disease received FUS treatment, followed by contrast-enhanced MRI scans at 2 hours, 24 hours, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-procedure. The paper describes natural progression patterns of brain lesion changes after the intervention with correlation to MR contrast agent (MRCA) accumulation. MRI findings revealed an altered signal intensity area in the FUS target area. Peak MRCA accumulation was observed at 2 hours and 1 month post-procedure, with marked regression of contrast enhancement intensity by 24 hours. FUS demonstrated significant potential as a method for targeted temporary blood-brain barrier permeability disruption, while contrast-enhanced brain MRI proved valuable for assessing permeability alteration severity.

About the authors

Mikhail B. Dolgushin

Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies

Author for correspondence.
Email: mdolgushin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3930-5998

D. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head, Department of X-ray and radionuclide diagnostic methods

Russian Federation, Moscow

Christina A. Prishchepina

Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies

Email: kprishchepina@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-4522-161X

radiologist

Russian Federation, Moscow

Ivan S. Gumin

Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies; Moscow State University

Email: mdolgushin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2360-3261

radiologist, radiologist, Research and educational center

Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

Elena A. Katunina

Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies; Pirogov Russian National Medical Research University

Email: mdolgushin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5805-486X

D. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head, Department of neurodegenerative diseases

Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

Ilya V. Senko

Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies

Email: mdolgushin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5743-8279

D. Sci. (Med.), Head, Neurosurgical department, Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology

Russian Federation, Moscow

Raisa T. Tairova

Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies; Pirogov Russian National Medical Research University

Email: mdolgushin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4174-7114

D. Sci. (Med.), Professor, сhief physician, Medical Director, Associate Professor, Department of neurology, neurosurgery and medical genetics

Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

Andrey V. Dvoryanchikov

Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies

Email: mdolgushin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-0678-7821

engineer

Russian Federation, Moscow

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Copyright (c) 2025 Dolgushin M.B., Prishchepina C.A., Gumin I.S., Katunina E.A., Senko I.V., Tairova R.T., Dvoryanchikov A.V.

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