MR-guided focused ultrasound effective for treating essential tremor

The last ten years have been challenging for Billy R. Williams of Fort Valley, Virginia. The former Pentagon employee, who survived the 9/11 terrorist attack, has suffered from essential tremor, a progressive and debilitating neurological disorder.

Medications controlled his tremor for a while, but eventually the shaking became so severe that Williams found it impossible to do anything with his dominant right hand. He was unable to button his shirt, eat without spilling or fill in a crossword puzzle. An avid golfer, he even needed help teeing up his ball.

Referred to the University of Virginia for evaluation, he learned about various treatment options and ultimately agreed to participate in a new clinical trial. Funded by the Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation, the study is assessing the safety and initial efficacy of MR-guided focused ultrasound as a treatment for essential tremor.

In February 2011, Williams became the first essential tremor patient in the world to receive MR-guided focused ultrasound therapy, and the results were dramatically positive. He has now completed the three-month study and remains pleased with the results.

A noninvasive therapy, MR-guided focused ultrasound allowed clinicians to precisely treat a small spot in Williams' thalamus - a region deep within the brain known to be an effective target for treating essential tremor and other movement disorders. No incisions were made, and Williams received no anesthesia. He remained awake and alert throughout the deep brain procedure and, at its conclusion, stood up and walked out of the treatment suite.