Abstract
Background: Pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) DBS has emerged as a potential intervention for patients with gait and balance disorders. However, targeting this nucleus can be challenging. We report on the first neuropathological analyses after PPN-DBS surgery in advanced progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Methods: Two patients with PSP underwent unilateral PPN-DBS surgery and were clinically followed to autopsy. Both patients underwent postmortem neuropathological analysis, including choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry, to ascertain PPN boundaries and electrode location. Results: Both patients experienced partial improvement in some motor and nonmotor domains postintervention, but died shortly of other complications. Postmortem neuropathological analysis of each patient confirmed the electrode in a region of cholinergic neuronal loss corresponding to the PPN. Conclusions: We provide histopathological evidence for the validity of our stereotactic approach to target the PPN and correlate electrode location with clinical outcomes.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1304-1307 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Movement Disorders |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2012 |
Keywords
- Deep brain stimulation
- Neuropathology
- Pedunculopontine nucleus
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology