Intracranial focused ultrasound and litt
Neurosurgery has evolved dramatically from its origins in ancient trephination to the sophisticated, technology‑driven discipline it is today. Early pioneers such as Harvey Cushing, Victor Horsley, Walter Dandy, and Geoffrey Jefferson established the foundations of modern neurosurgical practice, transforming a high‑risk field into a structured specialty. The 20th century ushered in unprecedented advances, particularly through neuroimaging, robotics, and neurostimulation, enabling greater precision, safety, and therapeutic possibilities for conditions including Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and chronic pain. This article provides an overview of two key minimally invasive modalities-MR‑guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) and laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT). By examining their procedural principles, clinical applications, and limitations, we highlighted how these complementary technologies are reshaping functional and oncological neurosurgery through effective lesioning or ablation without the need for large craniotomies.
Authors
- Antonella Macerollo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4322-2706)
- Ahsan Ali Taqvi
- Jibril Osman Farah
Institutions
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Walton Centre (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- British Journal of Neurosurgery
- Published
- 2026-09-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/02688697.2026.2733175
- Primary Topic
- Ultrasound in Clinical Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00