Thalamotomy for tremor (Parkinson's disease or essential tremor) or dystonia has been performed at the University of Pittsburgh for over 14 years. Formal evaluation of patients is performed under the Parkinson's Disease Program at UPMC.

Thalamotomy is recommended mainly for patients with disabling tremor, especially when one side of the body is afflicted more than the other.

Pallidotomy is considered when other symptoms such as rigidity, bradykinesia, or dyskinesia are present in addition to tremor.

See following articles for more information:

Kondziolka D, Lee JY. Long-lasting microthalamotomy effect after temporary placement of a thalamic stimulating electrode. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 82(2-3):127-30, 2004.

Kondziolka D. Gamma knife thalamotomy for disabling tremor. Arch Neurol 59(10):1660, 2002.

Niranjan A, Kondziolka D, Baser S, Heyman R, Lunsford LD. Functional outcomes after gamma knife thalamotomy for essential tremor and MS-related tremor. Neurology 55(3):443-6, 2000.

Niranjan A, Jawahar A, Kondziolka D, Lunsford LD. A comparison of surgical approaches for the management of tremor: radiofrequency thalamotomy, gamma knife thalamotomy and thalamic stimulation. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 72(2-4):178-84, 1999.

Kondziolka D, Bonaroti E, Baser S, Brandt F, Kim YS, Lunsford LD. Outcomes after stereotactically guided pallidotomy for advanced Parkinson's disease. J Neurosurg 90(2):197-202, 1999.