AAN 2021 | DBS vs MRI-guided focused ultrasound for tremor

Gian Pal, MD, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, discusses MRI-guided focused ultrasound for movement disorders, in particular essential tremor and Parkinsonian tremor. Dr Pal compares this procedure with deep brain stimulation (DBS). MRI-guided focused ultrasound offers benefits, such as being a one-time procedure and doesn’t require the implantation of hardware in the brain. On the other hand, DBS can be modulated and adjusted over time, unlike MRI-guided focused ultrasound. Dr Pal concludes that both procedures are good options for patients and that individual decision-making is essential. This interview took place during the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2021 Annual Meeting.