CT-guided stereotaxic biopsy of brain tumors: new technology for an old problem

On 63 patients, we used stereotaxic surgery combined with computer tomographic (CT) technology, for reasonably safe and precise biopsy of brain lesions. Histological confirmation was possible in 97% of the cases. More recently, we have also been using the CT-guided stereotaxic technique for brachytherapy, consisting of introduction of an array of radioactive isotope seeds (192Ir). The after-loading cannulas used for the isotope seeds are now also being used for introduction of probes for localized hyperthermia of brain tumors. CT-guided stereotaxic technique is proving to be a major technological advance both diagnostically and therapeutically.