Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Essential Tremor and Parkinsonian Tremor
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the changes in quality of life and degree of tremor for patients with essential tremor or Parkinsonian tremor who are treated by stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This is a questionnaire-based study. Please see Detailed Description below for more information.
Description
Tremor is the most common of all movement disorders. Patients with essential tremor (ET) or Parkinsonian tremor (PT) may be severely disabled by their tremor. When the tremor is inadequately controlled by medications, surgical options are often offered. However, some patients may prefer a noninvasive treatment approach and some patients are not surgical candidates for medical reasons. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a treatment that uses high-energy highly-focused radiation (X-rays) to destroy a tiny region in the brain that causes tremor to occur. This region is known as the ventral inter…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Must be certified by a neurologist as having essential tremor or Parkinsonian tremor that is insufficiently controlled by medication alone. * Preference to receive radiation treatment for tremor treatment, rather than surgical DBS implantation or surgical thalamotomy * At least 18 years old Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to cranial radiation (such as prior radiation to the thalamus) * Inability to have a MRI of the brain * Prior surgical thalamotomy treatment (but contralateral deep brain stimulator \[DBS\] is permitted) * Estimated life expectancy less than 1…
Interventions
- OtherQuestionnaires / Observational Assessments
Includes QUEST, PDQ-39, FTM, and Neuropsych evaluation
Location
- Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Tennessee