STEREOTACTIC BIOPSY OF BRAIN TUMOURS – MARIBORR EXPERIENCE WITHMHT STEREOTAXY SYSTEM

Abstract

BACKGROUND The goal of the current study was to assess the usefulness, reliability and safety of the imageguided stereotactic biopsy of intra-axial brain tumours. METHODS The study was conducted within a time frame of one year. 20 patients – 14 males and 6females (median age 63.5 years) were included. Computerized tomography (CT) – guidedstereotactic biopsies were performed by a single stereotactic neurosurgeon. A modifiedRiechert Stereotactic System (MHT Medical High Tech) and a workstation for multiplanartrajectory planning (Amira) were used. Biopsies were done with small forceps and 10–15samples were collected for histological analysis. During the operations also touch imprints and crush smears of the specimens were examined by the cytopathologist. Correct place ofthe biopsy and any detectable bleeding were analyzed by post-op CT scan. Descriptivestatistic methods were used and results were compared with the data from the literature. RESULTS Overall treatment morbidity was limited to one patient (5 %), there was no mortality.A conclusive tissue diagnosis could be achieved in 19 out of 20 patients (95 %). There were3 glioblastomas, 3 anaplastic astrocitomas, 5 astrocitomas, 1 inflammation, 2 lymphomas,and 2 malignant tumours – not further classified and 3 metastasis. All patients had postbiopsy CT scan to check for haemorrhage (none occurred). CONCLUSIONS MHT Stereotactic system and Amira multiplanar image guided trajectory planningsoftware are reliable tools enabling trained stereotactic neurosurgeon to obtain tissuediagnosis in almost every case with very little morbidity