[Stereotactic brain biopsy: review of 80 cases. The need of ct-scan in the first hours].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the efficacy of the stereotactic brain biopsies performed in the Neurosurgery Department of the São João Hospital in order to diagnose intracerebral damage and to determine the existence of post-biopsy haemorrhage.


METHODS
The authors evaluated 80 consecutive cases of patients submitted to a stereotactic brain biopsy. 63 of them had a control CT-scan from 4 to 6 hours after the proceeding.


RESULTS
Stereotactic biopsy yield a conclusive diagnosis in 75 of the 80 patients which corresponds to 93.7% of the cases. Inconclusive results occurred in 5 patients (6.25%). Significant morbidity occurred in 4 cases (5%) and there was no mortality. Control CT-scan revealed no alterations in 25 patients and vestigial haemorrhage in 27. In the remaining 11 the haemorrhage was of little significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Stereotactic biopsy is a safe and effective method to diagnose brain lesions. The realization of a control CT-scan within few hours after biopsy allows the identification of a sub-group of patients without intracerebral haemorrhage that may be discharged from hospital on the same day.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Biopsias estereotáxicas: revisión de una serie de 80 casos. Está justificada la realización de una tomografía computarizada (TC) en las primeras horas tras el procedimiento?