Improving Outcomes in Deep Brain Stimulation: A Comparative Study of 7T versus 3T Targeting

Motivation: 7T MRI offers improved image quality for deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting, but greater distortion and artifacts that could lead to inaccurate targeting. Goal(s): Our goal was to compare outcomes in DBS for essential tremor between patients targeted using 3T versus 7T MRI. Approach: Retrospective comparison of DBS patients with ET was performed with patients targeted using 3T versus 7T MRI. We assessed differences in tremor improvement, adverse events, and electrode positioning. Results: ET DBS patients targeted with 7T had significantly greater tremor control compared to 3T, as well as lower stimulation currents and improved electrode precision. Impact: Despite challenges of 7T MRI in surgical planning, outcomes in DBS for ET were improved by use of 7T MRI versus 3T MRI, including better tremor control, reduced stimulation currents, and greater precision.