title: Recent status of stereotaxic surgery.
abstract: Another important technical advance is the development of computed tomography (CT) instrumentation. The most recent equipment is able to detect lesions 2 mm in diameter. When the stereotaxic frame is exactly adjusted to the CT axis, the structures in the depth of the brain can be visualized and localized and can be referred to the three-dimensional coordinates of the stereotaxic instrument. This will enable the exact insertion of the stereotaxic needle to a small tumor lying in the depth of the brain or to some type of vascular lesions. Three-dimensional angiography would also provide the detailed information about such deep-lying tumors and their blood supply. It is highly probable that further advances in tomographic instrumentation will take the place of pneumoventriculography or positive contrast ventriculography, even in cases of functional stereotaxis. However, the importance of using the sophisticated physiologic methods previously described remains the same. At present, these new developments are still at the stage of designing instrumentation. Much is expected in the future. In summary, stereotaxic surgery is a selective technique to approach deep-lying structures in the human brain. It enables us to examine and treat the pathology in the depth of the brain. The important and necessary attitude of the scientist is how to understand the nature of the symptoms and the diseases, on which the prognostic value of the lifelong treatment may depend.
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013788:Thalamus / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa