Neurological applications of transcranial high intensity focused ultrasound.

Advances in transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound have renewed interest in lesioning procedures in functional neurosurgery with a potential role in the treatment of neurological conditions such as chronic pain, brain tumours, movement disorders and psychiatric diseases. While the use of transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound represents a new innovation in neurosurgery, ultrasound has been used in neurosurgery for almost 60 years. This paper reviews the major historical milestones that have led to modern transcranial focused ultrasound and discusses current and evolving applications of ultrasound in the brain.