Emergence of complex, involuntary movements after gamma knife radiosurgery for essential tremor.

Gamma knife radiosurgery is generally considered a safer alternative to traditional pallidotomy or thalamotomy. We report the case of a 59-year-old patient with essential tremor who developed a complex, disabling movement disorder following gamma knife thalamotomy. This case illustrates the need for long-term follow-up to fully evaluate the potential for complications following radiosurgery. Copyright 2001 Movement Disorder Society.