Diagnostic yield of stereotactic brain biopsy

To evaluate the diagnostic yield, accuracy, and safety of frame-based stereotactic brain biopsy procedures. A retrospective study of all pathologically diagnosed intracranial lesions, using frame-based stereotactic guided brain biopsy procedures performed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre [KFSH and RC], Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 1993 and 2005 was conducted. Medical charts, radiological studies, and pathological slides were reviewed. A total of 120 consecutive patients who had frame-based stereotactic diagnostic biopsy procedures were identified. Data regarding procedural techniques, lesion locations, pathological diagnosis, and postoperative complications were collected. Patients' ages ranged from 3-72 years [mean +/- standard deviation: 39.4 +/- 20.3], 67 males and 53 females. Sites of biopsied lesions included: 49 thalamic, 29 deep frontal, 23 parietal, 9 temporal, and 10 others. Targeting accuracy was 99.2%. General anesthesia was used in 103 patients [85.8%]. The rest was carried out under local anesthesia. Diagnostic yield was estimated at 96%. Most frequently encountered pathological diagnosis includes gliomas [63%], infections [16%], and lymphomas [7%]. One mortality [0.8%], and 5 [4%] morbidities were encountered. Stereotactic brain biopsy is a relatively safe technique to obtain a tissue biopsy that represents the pathology of the lesion. Recent advances in stereotactic neurosurgical techniques have helped to improve the safety and diagnostic yield of such procedures