Histological appearances of intracranial biopsies obtained using the Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator.

The Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator causes localised ultrasonic tissue fragmentation and has recently been used to remove intracranial tumours. We have examined tissue fragments from 17 operations in which the apparatus was used: in all cases a definitive diagnosis could be made from the material aspirated. This finding has not been previously described.