What is dorso-lateral in the subthalamic Nucleus (STN)?--a topographic and anatomical consideration on the ambiguous description of today's primary target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery.
BACKGROUND
The most frequently used target for DBS in advanced Parkinson Disease (PD) is the sensorimotor subthalamic nucleus (STN), anatomically referred to as dorso-lateral STN [3]. Ambiguities arise, regarding the true meaning of this description in the STN. Does "dorsal" indicate posterior or superior? At its best, this definition assigns two directions in space to a three-dimensional structure.


OBJECTIVE
This paper evaluates the ambiguity and describes the sensorimotor part of the STN in stereotactic space.
Coenen
Volker A
VA
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. vacoenen@aol.com
Prescher
Andreas
A
Schmidt
Thorsten
T
Picozzi
Piero
P
Gielen
Frans L H
FL
D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D038361:Neuronavigation / Q000379:methods; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*