About this Research Topic

Background

Recent therapies for various brain diseases involve the application of electricity within the brain. Three therapies that became a standard of care are:
1. tumor treatment fields (TTFields)
2. deep brain stimulation (DBS), and
3. transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial direct current stimulation (TMS/tDCS)

TTFields is a non-invasive chronic application of alternating electric fields (range 100-300 KHz) that disrupts tumor cell division in some of the most aggressive cancer types. DBS is the chronic application of alternating current (90-180 Hz) that mediates the abnormal electrical activity of the brain in diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tumor, dystonia and other neurological conditions. TMS/tDCS are the non-chronic non-invasive application of magnetic fields / direct current that stimulate nerve cells to improve symptoms of depression and other psychiatric disorders. Image-based patient-specific planning for these therapies can result in a better efficacy and lesser adverse effects.

Therefore, we aim at publishing the latest research on image-based planning of electric neurological treatments. We will present the most recent ideas on electric treatment planning and its integration with current treatment flow. Novel methods for implementing the treatment planning are also of large interest. This include segmentation of anatomical and pathological tissues, 3D modeling of patient-specific anatomy and treatment devices, estimation of electric field distribution and its effect on specific tissues and neural activity. In addition, clinical-anatomical atlases and methods to predict treatment outcomes and methods for validation of the correct execution of treatment planning are also of large interest.

We invite researchers that are active in the relevant fields to submit a manuscript. We will consider all types of articles (see https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience#article-types), but prioritize Original Research.

We are interested in manuscript on the following topics:

-Workflow design and analysis

-Anatomical and pathological segmentation methods

-Geometrical modeling

-Treatment-planning validation and quality assurance

-Estimation of electric field distribution

-Prediction of treatment outcomes

-Clinical atlases

- Methods for the accurate and safe execution of the planned treatment

Dr. Ruby Shamir is employed by Novocure. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject

Keywords: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), Transcranial magnetic stimulation, (TMS) Individual Treatment planning, Numerical simulations Dosimetry, Tumor segmentation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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