Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40243386›Full record

SynthesisMovement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society2025

Efficacy and Safety of Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy in Essential Tremor: A Systematic Review and Metanalysis.

Alyssa Shiramba, Steven Lane, Nicola Ray, Tom Gilbertson, Rajesha Srinivasaiah, Jay Panicker, Mark Radon, Jibril Osman-Farah, Antonella Macerollo

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Observational
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Surgical Treatment of Tremor Syndromes: A Guide to the Clinician.Movement disorders clinical practice · 2026
    Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Chorea After MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy.Tremor and other hyperkinetic movements (New York, N.Y.) · 2025
    Article
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Alyssa ShirambaSchool of Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Steven LaneInstitute of Data Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Nicola RayDepartment of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Tom GilbertsonDepartment of Neurology, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, UK.
Rajesha SrinivasaiahThe Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK.
Jay PanickerThe Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK.
Mark RadonThe Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK.
Jibril Osman-FarahThe Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK.
Antonella MacerolloThe Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMagnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an established surgical treatment for essential tremor, providing tremor relief without the need for an incision or general anesthesia. Meta-analyses have been limited in their exploration of the durability of the treatment effect.

objectivesThe study aimed to assess the treatment effect and safety of this procedure over time. Different to other meta-analyses, this study assessed the durability of efficacy over time from 1 month to 5 years follow-up. Investigating the recurrence of tremor was an important target of this work.

methodsA systematic search of the literature utilizing set search criteria was conducted with the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data analysis was conducted in R, utilizing a random-effects model for meta-analysis and a mixed-effects model for meta-regression.

resultsForty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 42 were included in the analyses. Significant changes in hand tremor, total tremor, disability scores, and quality of life scores were demonstrated across the time points investigated, the pooled standardized mean differences being -2.36 (P < 0.0001), -2.08 (P < 0.0001), -2.85 (P < 0.0001), and -1.41 (P < 0.0001) 1 year post-operation. Sensory symptoms and unsteadiness adverse events were frequently observed, with pooled proportions of 22% (95% CI 15%; 31%) and 23% (95% CI 16%; 31%) 1 month post-MRgFUS.

conclusionAlthough the procedure demonstrated efficacy and safety across the studies evaluated, meta-regression analysis suggests a decrease in treatment effect over time that requires further investigation. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Indexed as

Essential TremorHigh-Intensity Focused Ultrasound AblationMagnetic Resonance ImagingThalamusHumansTreatment Outcomeefficacyessential tremorMRI‐guided focused ultrasoundsafetytremor recurrance

Identifiers

PMID40243386
PMCPMC12160963

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.