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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Patients with Medically-refractory Essential Tremor
Published on: December 13, 2017
Chorea After MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy
Sara J Hooshmand1, Tina Liu1, Rushna Ali2
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Background:
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy (MR-FUS) is a promising, noninvasive treatment for medically refractory essential tremor (ET). It is well tolerated, with the most common side effects being sensory and gait disturbances.
Case Report:
A 69-year-old man presented with orofacial dyskinesias, left hemichorea, and motor impersistence 1 week after MR-FUS of the right ventralis intermedius nucleus for ET. MRI brain demonstrated right ventral thalamus T2 hyperintensity with inferolateral extension abutting the subthalamic nucleus (STN).
Discussion:
Chorea is a rare side effect of MR-FUS, but may be present with inferolateral lesions extension to the STN, disrupting the indirect pathway.
