title: A modified method to perform the frameless biopsy.
abstract: Neuronavigation is increasingly being used to assist in stereotactic neurosurgery due to its frameless property. In this study, we developed and assessed a modified method of performing stereotactic brain biopsies by combining the use of the Fisher stereotactic biopsy instrument, that was fixed on universal quick-lock holder, under infrared guidance of the BrainLab VectorVision Neuronavigation system. Eighteen patients received a frameless stereotactic procedure in this study, including 5 cases of brain biopsy, 2 cases of abscess aspiration, 10 cases of hematoma aspiration and one case of Ommaya reservoir implantation. All cases were on target and successful. In this paper, we present our technique, discuss the advantage and disadvantages of the method and review the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, ROC, Taichung, Taiwan. ns@vghtc.vghtc.gov.tw
authors.forename: Hung Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yeou Chih
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shinh Dung
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Nan Fu
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng Siu
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Dar Yu
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000379:methods; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods