Focused Ultrasound for Brain Diseases: A Review of Current Applications and Future Perspectives

Neurosurgical procedures heavily rely on technological innovation to improve patients care. Focused Ultrasound (FUS) represents a novel and ever-growing technology with roots dating back to the 19th century. Now surrounded by state-of-the-art equipment, such as MRI guidance, thermometry, neuronavigation guidance, artificial acoustic windows and implantable devices, FUS employs mechanical waves to deliver a wide spectrum of physical effects, in a non-invasive and precise fashion. Even if most of its applications are nowadays mostly experimental or at the very initial steps into clinical practice, FUS has seen its tools being used in a growing number of diseases and applications, ranging from oncology to cerebrovascular, functional disorders and even neuro- and immune-modulation. This general review aims to provide a comprehensive vision of FUS application for neurological conditions. •Focused Ultrasound is a novel modality for the treatment of intra-cranial targets.•Focused Ultrasound encompasses many high and medium-low intensity techniques.•More clinical investigations are needed to establish FUS in clinical practice.