First Successful MRgFUS Treatment of Hypothalamic Hamartoma in Russia

The first successful experience of dissecting a hypothalamic hamartoma using MRI-guided focused ultrasound in Russia // N.N. Burdenko Journal of Neurosurgery 2024 N 1, p. 79-87

Galimova  R.M.,  Illarioshkin  S.N.,  Safin  Sh.M.,  Buzaev  I.V.,  Nabiullina  D.I.,  
Krekotin  D.K.,  Nurmukhametova  S.R.,  Sidorova  Ю.А.,  Akhmadeeva  G.N.,  
Kashapov  F.F.,  Yakupov  T.Z.,  Терегулова  D.R.

Summary

Treatment of movement disorders with MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a recognized alternative to neurosurgical and radiological interventions—stereotactic radiofrequency ablation and gamma knife thalamotomy. However, for intracranial neoplasms, the safety, efficacy, and feasibility profile of this technology remains underexplored. The article presents a case of successful MRgFUS dissection of a hypothalamic hamartoma in a 32-year-old woman with pharmacoresistant gelastic epilepsy with episodes of forced laughter and crying. A type 2 hypothalamic hamartoma was separated from the surrounding brain tissue using MRgFUS without side effects. Rapid improvement was noted post-operation: episodes of laughter and crying were not observed during the 6-month follow-up.

Keywords: hypothalamic hamartoma, gelastic seizures, focused ultrasound, magnetic resonance
tomography, functional neurosurgery, pharmacoresistant epilepsy.

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