title: Stereotactic biopsies of brain lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the majority of cases, the correct treatment of brain lesions is possible only when the histopathological diagnosis is made. Several deep-seated lesions near eloquent areas are not safely approached by the classical neurosurgical procedures. These patients can get benefit by a minimally invasive procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a series of 176 consecutive patients submitted to stereotactic biopsies due to a great variety of brain lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological diagnosis found in this series: glioma in 40.1% of the patients, other neoplasms in 12.2% and infectious or inflammatory diseases in 29.1 %. The result was inconclusive in 5.2% of the procedures. One patient died (0.6%) and two (1.2%) presented operative complications. The criteria, advantages and risks of the stereotactic biopsies are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacy of the method is adequate and morbid-mortality rates were low.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Estadual de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel Jacobsen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Erich Talamoni
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Fonoff
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandel
authors.forename: Hélvio Leite
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosemberg