Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41231093›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia open2026

Centromedian nucleus targeting in the pediatric population treated with thalamic responsive neurostimulation for drug-resistant epilepsy.

Marian Michael Bercu, Bahram Sarvi Zargar, Kathryn E Spykman, Gabe Heredia, Alon Y Mogilner, Angel W Hernandez, Sanjay E Patra, David E Burdette, Paul Ferrari

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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.

Marian Michael BercuDivision of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Bahram Sarvi ZargarDepartment of Neuroscience, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Kathryn E SpykmanDepartment of Neuroscience, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Gabe HerediaDepartment of Imaging, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Alon Y MogilnerDepartment of Neurosurgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Angel W HernandezDivision of Neurology, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.
Sanjay E PatraDivision of Neurological Surgery, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
David E BurdetteDivision of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Paul FerrariDepartment of Neuroscience, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The management of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in the pediatric population using neurostimulation of the centromedian (CM) nucleus of the thalamus (CMN) has been reported to be effective and safe. We present a case series of pediatric patients treated with responsive neurostimulation (RNS) and report on contact localization in relation to preliminary outcomes, specifically seizure reduction rates. Thirteen pediatric patients treated with RNS underwent direct targeting of the CMN based on Magnetization-Prepared 2 Rapid Gradient-Echo (MP2RAGE) scans, using ClearPoint neuronavigation. The implanted electrodes were co-registered to a probabilistic anatomical model of the thalamic nuclei (Freesurfer) for secondary confirmation of contact localization. Ten out of the 12 patients with extra-temporal multifocal or generalized DRE (83.3%) had over 50% reduction in seizures, benefiting from an 80.4% seizure reduction rate. The average follow-up interval was 25.2 months, with no patients experiencing stimulation-related side effects. The analysis of post-operative images revealed that out of the 24 CM-processed electrodes, 23 (95.8%) had at least two contacts in the nucleus, based on patient-specific segmentation of the thalamus. The preliminary outcomes suggest a robust response to central neurostimulation and no stimulation-related side effects in pediatric patients suffering from multifocal or generalized DRE when implementing high-accuracy direct targeting. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: We are reporting our experience in the management of the most challenging types of pediatric epilepsy, involving seizures originating from multiple and/or poorly defined brain areas. We surgically implanted a responsive neurostimulation device (RNS) in central areas of the brain that function as connection hubs between different brain regions. These devices are designed to detect early signs of abnormal brain activity, and respond with electrical pulses to prevent progression to clinical seizures. Using our approach, we reduced the seizure rates by an average of 80% in 83% of the pediatric patients who received this treatment.

Indexed as

Deep Brain StimulationDrug Resistant EpilepsyIntralaminar Thalamic NucleiAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolElectrodes, ImplantedFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleNeuronavigationTreatment Outcomecentromedian nucleus of thalamusdirect targetingdrug‐resistant epilepsypediatricresponsive neurostimulation

Identifiers

PMID41231093
PMCPMC12903815

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Registered trials

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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.