Stereotaxic Biopsy Experience

Aim: To review the outcomes and complications of stereotactic biopsy procedures performed at Neurosurgery Department of Baskent University and make an overall evaluation of the stereotactic biopsy system.Materials and Methods: Medical files of 151 patients who underwent stereotaxic biopsy procedure between 1996 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The , age and gender of the patients, intracranial localization of the lesion and histopathologic diagnosis were evaluated.Result: The series included 84(55.6%) males and 67 (44.4%) females. The average age was 47.7 and the age spectrum was between 26-84 years of age. In 102 cases (67.55%) lesions had lobar localization and in 42 lesions (27.82%) the pathology was deep seated lesion. In 7(4.6 %) there were multiple lesions. A histopathologic diagnosis was obtained in 125 (82.79 %) cases. In 16 (%10.59 %) it was reported as brain tissue and in 10 cases (6.62 %) the histopathologic diagnosis was gliosis. A second stereotactic bipsy procedure was performed in 8 cases while in one patient a third biopsy became necessary. Thirteen patients underwent craniotomy and tumor excision as further therapy.Conclusion: Stereotactic biopsy sampling of intracranial space occupying lesions is a safe, simple and highly diagnostic method. In some cases it may contribute to further therapy. The problems encountered are inconclusive diagnosis, inadequate representation of the specimen due to its limited nature and some technical difficulties.