[The role and importance of CT-guided stereotaxic brain biopsy in neurosurgery. Experiences with 523 cases].

Between 1989 and 1996, 523 stereotactic biopsies of different intracranial lesions were performed at our institution. In 96.3% of the cases accurate histological diagnosis was made. In 59 cases the drainage of the abscess or cyst was carried out. In 48 cases the lesion was axial, in 27 parasellar, 7 pineal and 37 infratentorial. In the rest of the cases the lesion was in the supratentorial hemispheres. Transient neurological deficits were observed in 3.4% of the cases and craniotomy with haematoma evacuation had to be carried out in one case following the biopsy. There was no mortality associated with the interventions in our material. Our experience supports that CT guided biopsy is a safe and efficient method for obtaining histological diagnosis in different intracranial lesions and showed to be very useful in planning te appropriate treatment for each patient.