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Complications after frame-based stereotactic brain biopsy: a systematic review
Maximilien Riche1,2, Aymeric Amelot1,2, Matthieu Peyre1,2,3
1Department of Neurosurgery, AP-HP, GHU La Pitié-Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, F-75013, Paris, France.
Neurosurgical Review
|January 5, 2020
Summary
Stereotactic frame-based brain biopsy is a generally safe procedure for obtaining brain tissue. While complications like neurological impairment and hemorrhage can occur, they are rare and rarely fatal.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Medical Procedures
Background:
- Stereotactic frame-based brain biopsy is a common neurosurgical procedure for tissue acquisition.
- Existing literature presents heterogeneous data regarding the safety and complication rates of this minimally invasive technique.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and analyze the complications associated with stereotactic frame-based brain biopsy.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the incidence, types, and outcomes of complications.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
- Searched Medline database for English articles published between 1994 and June 2019.
- Included 25 relevant studies after applying exclusion criteria.
Main Results:
- Mortality rates ranged from 0.7% to 4%, and overall morbidity from 3% to 13%.
- Common complications included neurological impairment, seizures, and unconsciousness.
- Symptomatic hemorrhage occurred in 0.9%–8.6% of cases, with asymptomatic bleeding up to 59.8%.
Conclusions:
- Complications from frame-based stereotactic brain biopsy are infrequent but can have serious consequences.
- Mortality and permanent neurological deficits are rare outcomes.
- Standardized classification and grading scales are needed to improve comparability of complication data across studies.
