title: Combination of needle aspiration and core needle biopsy: A new technique of stereotactic biopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims at describing the results of using a new technique to acquire the tissue sample in stereotactic biopsy of brain lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in 19 patients over a period of 5 years in which we used the new technique, i.e., Abrar and Afzal technique (AT) of obtaining tissue biopsy. It is a combination of core tissue biopsy and needle aspiration techniques. The technique was devised to acquire greater amount of tissue for pathologic study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While we could give pathologic diagnosis in 18 patients out of 19 (94.7%), in one patient, the tissue sample revealed only inflammatory cells and definitive diagnosis could not be reached. There was no significant morbidity or any mortality in the series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abrar and Afzal technique is a reasonably accurate technique of acquiring larger tissue sample in stereotactic brain biopsy without any additional risks. It can be done with little modification of the conventional equipment available with the stereotactic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Abrar Ahad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: M Afzal
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Altaf U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Ramzan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Furqan A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Nizami
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Nayil K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shafiq
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Rais
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Iqbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lone
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Rumana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Makhdoomi
keywords: Cerebral mass lesions; stereotaxy; technical modification