Structural and functional alterations in the gustatory network underlie taste disturbances after lesional tremor therapy with MRgFUS

Introduction MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an emerging technique for treatment of severe, medication-refractory essential tremor (ET). Typical side effects include paraesthesias, gait disorders and less frequently taste disturbances.1 2 The gustatory tract is assumed to pass within the cranial nerves VII, IX and X to the ipsilateral solitary nucleus in the medulla to project via the parvocellular division of the ventral posterior medial nucleus (VPMpc) to the gustatory cortex in the insula, the frontal operculum and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).3 Thalamic nuclei adjacent to the targeted posteroventral part of the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus (VLpv) may be affected by MRgFUS and interfere with gustatory projections. Our objective was to identify microstructural alterations and changes in functional connectivity (FC) within the gustatory network (GN) in patients with ET with taste disturbances post-MRgFUS. Methods Clinical and imaging findings of 26 ET patients,...
Source: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry - Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Tags: PostScript Source Type: research