Brain stem expansive lesions: stereotactic biopsy for a better therapeutic approach.
CT diagnosed brain stem malignant lesions were in the past almost always treated with radiation therapy (RT). Eventually this turned out to be a grave mistake. With stereotactic serial biopsies of all brain stem expanding lesions we have been able to verify the histological nature in all cases but two and to prevent a blind therapeutic approach. In 24 patients bearing CT diagnosed expansive lesions into the brain stem 68 samples were taken during 24 stereotactic procedures. In 8 patients surgical removal of the expanding lesion was attempted after stereotactic biopsy.
Giunta
F
F
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Brescia, Italia.
Marini
G
G
Grasso
G
G
Zorzi
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques