Onkologie. 2011:5(1):49-52

The role of stereotactic biopsy in the diagnostic workup of brain tumor

Jan Chrastina¹, Zdeněk Novák¹, Radim Jančálek¹, Ivo Říha¹, Bronislava Slaná², Markéta Hermanová², Věra Feitová³

¹ Neurochirurgická klinika LF MU FN u sv. Anny v Brně

² I. patologickoanatomický ústav LF MU FN u sv. Anny v Brně

³ Klinika zobrazovacích metod LF MU FN u sv. Anny v Brně

Study aim: Histological verification is a prerequisite for adequate therapy of brain tumors. Study presents the experience with stereotactic

biopsy of brain tumors paying attention to diagnostic utility, correlation of findings with tumor resection and surgical safety.

Methods: Brain tumor biopsy using stereotactic frame based system (deep and small lesions) was performed in 106 patients and frameless

neuronavigation system BrainLab (superficially located lesions) was used in 20 patients.

Results: Diagnostic efficiency was 96,3 % in frame based system and 100 % in frameless system. The incidence of complications was

1,8 % in frame based biopsies. There was one asymptomatic haematoma in frameless biopsy patients. Suspected brain tumor was not

proven in 12,8 % of patient. There was correlation of histological findings in specimens taken during stereotactic biopsy and open tumor

resection (10 patients) in all except one patient (malignant glioma grading).

Conclusions: Frameless and neuronavigation based tumor biopsy is a safe procedure beneficial for the treatment of brain tumor patiens.

The decision about the use of frame based or frameless system depends on lesion location (frame based system in deep lesions), lesion

extent (frameless system in extensive subcortical tumors) and planned treatment steps.

Keywords: brain tumors, stereotaxy, frameless technique, biopsy

Published: February 25, 2011  Show citation