Stereotactic brain biopsy: Single center retrospective analysis of complications.
OBJECTIVE
Stereotactic biopsy is a widely used surgical technique for the histological diagnosis of intracranial lesions. Potential risks of this procedure, such as hemorrhage, seizure, and infection have been established, and different risk factors have been characterized. However, these risks have been addressed by only few studies conducted in Asian countries.


METHODS
The study group is comprised of 299 consecutive stereotactic biopsy procedures by 11 neurosurgeons between 2004 and 2007. The pre-operative medical conditions, methods of biopsy and postoperative complications were analyzed.


RESULTS
The overall diagnostic yield was 90.64%. Complications were observed in 7.36% of the cases, with symptomatic hemorrhages occurring in 4.35% of the cases, and the overall mortality rate in this study population was 1.34%. Patients with liver cirrhosis were at a higher risk of hemorrhage. Other clinical, radiological, or histological variables were not associated with an increased risk of complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Stereotactic brain biopsy is a safe and reliable way to obtain a histological diagnosis. Based on our recent clinical experiences, the data suggests that more attention should be paid to liver cirrhotic patients, since the chance on hemorrhage is significantly larger.
Chen
Ching-Chang
CC
Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical College and University, 5, Fu-Shin Street, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan County, Linkou 333, Taiwan.
Hsu
Peng-Wei
PW
Erich Wu
Tai-Wei
TW
Lee
Shih-Tseng
ST
Chang
Chen-Nen
CN
Wei
Kuo-chen
KC
Chuang
Chih-Cheng
CC
Wu
Chieh-Tsai
CT
Lui
Tai-Ngar
TN
Hsu
Yung-Hsin
YH
Lin
Tzu-Kang
TK
Lee
Sai-Cheung
SC
Huang
Yin-Cheng
YC
D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome