IMPACT OF BRAIN BIOPSY ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH NONNEOPLASTIC UNDIAGNOSED NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

Neurosurgery ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 833-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinke Pulhorn ◽  
D. Gavin Quigley ◽  
Jark J.D. Bosma ◽  
Ramez Kirollos ◽  
Daniel G. du Plessis ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE We sought to assess the diagnostic yield, complication rates, and therapeutic impact of open brain biopsy and serial stereotactic brain biopsy in the management of patients with nonneoplastic neurological conditions in which conventional investigations did not yield a definitive diagnosis. METHODS A retrospective case note analysis was undertaken in consecutive patients undergoing brain biopsy at The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery during a 15-year period. The diagnostic yield, prebiopsy diagnostic category, biopsy technique (open versus stereotactic), complication rates, and impact on clinical management were assessed. Biopsies were grouped into one of five categories: diagnostic, suggestive, nonspecific, normal, or nondiagnostic. RESULTS Thirty-nine patients underwent biopsy. The diagnostic yield (combined diagnostic and suggestive) of targeted serial stereotactic biopsy was 64% (seven of 11 patients); in the open brain biopsy group, the diagnostic yield was 46% (13 of 28 patients). The prebiopsy diagnosis was confirmed in 100% (three of three patients) stereotactic biopsy patients and 75% (nine of 12 patients) of open biopsy patients. Two patients (7%) in the open biopsy group had short-term complications. The clinical impact was similar in both groups: nine of 28 (32%) open biopsy patients and four of 11 (36%) stereotactic biopsy patients. CONCLUSION Despite the low clinical impact, diagnostic brain biopsy should be considered in patients with nonneoplastic undiagnosed neurological disorders. Patients with neuroimaging abnormalities should preferentially undergo targeted biopsy.

2006 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme F. Woodworth ◽  
Matthew J. McGirt ◽  
Amer Samdani ◽  
Ira Garonzik ◽  
Alessandro Olivi ◽  
...  

Object The gold standard for stereotactic brain biopsy target localization has been frame-based stereotaxy. Recently, frameless stereotactic techniques have become increasingly utilized. Few authors have evaluated this procedure, analyzed preoperative predictors of diagnostic yield, or explored the differences in diagnostic yield and morbidity rate between the frameless and frame-based techniques. Methods A consecutive series of 110 frameless and 160 frame-based image-guided stereotactic biopsy procedures was reviewed. Associated variables for both techniques were reviewed and compared. All stereotactic biopsy procedures were included in a risk factor analysis of nondiagnostic biopsy sampling. Frameless stereotaxy led to a diagnostic yield of 89%, with a total permanent morbidity rate of 6% and a mortality rate of 1%. Larger lesions were fivefold more likely to yield diagnostic tissues. Deep-seated lesions were 2.7-fold less likely to yield diagnostic tissues compared with cortical lesions. Frameless compared with frame-based stereotactic biopsy procedures showed no significant differences in diagnostic yield or transient or permanent morbidity. For cortical lesions, more than one needle trajectory was required more frequently to obtain diagnostic tissues with frame-based as opposed to frameless stereotaxy, although this factor was not associated with morbidity. Conclusions With regard to diagnostic yield and complication rate, the frameless stereotactic biopsy procedure was found to be comparable to or better than the frame-based method. Smaller and deep-seated lesions together were risk factors for a nondiagnostic tissue yield. Frameless stereotaxy may represent a more efficient means of obtaining biopsy specimens of cortical lesions but is otherwise similar to the frame-based technique.


Author(s):  
Paul N. Kongkham ◽  
Eva Knifed ◽  
Mandeep S. Tamber ◽  
Mark Bernstein

Background:Frame-based stereotactic brain biopsy has played an important role in the management of patients with suspected neoplastic intracranial lesions over the last three decades. We reviewed the surgical experience of one surgeon to determine the nature and frequency of complications associated with this procedure.Methods:Records were reviewed for 858 patients undergoing frame-based stereotactic procedures from January 1986 to May 2006. Data on each case were prospectively collected by the senior author. Procedures for Ommaya reservoir placement, brachytherapy, stereotactic craniotomy flap localization, shunt placement, or treatment of previously-diagnosed intracranial cystic lesions were excluded, leaving 614 patients in whom a total of 622 procedures were performed for purely diagnostic purposes. Complication rates and their association with clinical variables were sought.Results:Morbidity and mortality rates were 6.9% (43/622) and 1.3% (8/622), respectively. The risk of symptomatic hemorrhage (intracerebral hemorrhage [ICH], subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH], intraventricular hemorrhage [IVH]) was 4.8%. The risks of transient or permanent neurological deficits were 2.9% (18/622) and 1.5% (9/622), respectively. Biopsy of deep-seated lesions was associated with increased overall complication rate, while biopsy of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) was associated with perioperative mortality.Conclusions:Overall, complication rates were comparable with those in previous reports. The subgroup of patients with deep-seated lesions or a histologic diagnosis of GBM may possess an elevated risk of overall complications or mortality, respectively, compared to other patients undergoing frame-based stereotactic brain biopsy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Monica Lara-Almunia ◽  
Javier Hernandez-Vicente

Background: Stereotactic biopsy is a well-established procedure in neurosurgery. Our objective is to define the clinical, radiological, and technical factors that can condition the emergence of postbiopsy symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Based on our findings, we suggest recommendations to improve its usual clinical practice. Methods: We made a retrospective study of 429 cases with stereotactic biopsies performed in the past 37 years. The surgical procedure-was adapted in terms of the stereotactic frames (Todd-Wells, CRW, Leksell), neuroimaging tests, and planning programs available in the hospital. Fifty-three variables were analyzed for each patient (SPSS.23). Results: The diagnostic yield was 90.7%. Forty-one patients (9.5%) suffered a symptomatic postbiopsy hemorrhage; only 17 (3.9%) had permanent morbidity. The mortality was 0.93% (n = 4). A postsurgical CT scan was requested only in 99 patients (23%) of our series. Lesion mass effect, cystic component, contrast enhancement, histological nature, or number of targets were not associated with a greater risk of symptomatic postbiopsy hemorrhage (P > 0.05). On the other hand, the biopsies made by nonexpert neurosurgeons (P = 0.01) or under general anesthesia (P = 0.02) resulted in a greater risk of symptomatic postbiopsy hemorrhage. Anesthetic type was the clearest predictive factor of bleeding with this technique (OR: 0.24). Conclusion: Stereotactic biopsy is a very valuable tool. To optimize its safety and minimize the risk of intracranial bleeding, it requires both a knowledge of stereotactic techniques and very careful surgical planning. While the patient’s stay in intensive vigilance units after the procedure is a useful strategy, the request for control CT scans should be conditioned by the clinical evolution of each patient.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
René L. Bernays ◽  
Spyros S. Kollias ◽  
Nadia Khan ◽  
Sebastian Brandner ◽  
Sonja Meier ◽  
...  

Object. The authors undertook a prospective study of frameless, magnetic resonance (MR)—guided stereotactic brain biopsy procedures performed with the aid of an open MR system. Morbidity and mortality rates, frequency of postoperative hemorrhage, and histological yield were evaluated, as well as the size and location of the lesions under investigation. Methods. During a period of 51 months (July 1996–November 2000), 114 consecutive frameless stereotactic biopsy procedures were performed with the aid of an open intraoperative MR system to investigate supratentorial lesions in 113 patients. The median volume of the lesions was 33.5 cm3, and 31.9% were deep seated. All biopsy samples comprised pathological tissue and in 111 (97.4%) of 114 a specific neuropathological diagnosis was made. A follow-up computerized tomography (CT) scan was obtained on the 1st postoperative day in all patients to evaluate postoperative complications. In two cases (1.8%), a hemorrhage was found on postoperative CT scans, with no neurological worsening of the patients. Morbidity with neurological worsening was seen in three patients; it was transient in two of them (1.8%), and in one (0.9%) subsequent emergency craniotomy was necessary because of increased edema. There were no infections, but there was one death (0.9%) Conclusions. Open intraoperative MR imaging transforms a blind conventional stereotactic procedure into a visually controlled procedure that is adaptable to dynamic anatomical changes. Routine postprocedural MR imaging makes follow-up CT scanning obsolete. This largest reported series of intraoperative MR—guided biopsy procedures shows results that are at least comparable with those in reports of larger series of conventional stereotactic biopsy sampling. The mean procedure time was 60 minutes including planning, and this method produced low morbidity and complication rates and a high histological yield.


1995 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Levivier ◽  
Serge Goldman ◽  
Benoît Pirotte ◽  
Jean-Marie Brucher ◽  
Danielle Balériaux ◽  
...  

✓ The aim of the present study was to determine whether routine integration of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in the planning of stereotactic brain biopsy increases the technique's diagnostic yield. Forty-three patients underwent combined FDG-PET— and computerized tomography (CT)-guided stereotactic biopsy of intracranial lesions according to a previously described technique. In 36 patients, an area of abnormal FDG uptake was used to guide at least one stereotactic biopsy trajectory. A total of 90 stereotactic trajectories were performed; among them, 55 were based on FDG-PET—defined targets and 35 were based on CT-defined targets. Histological diagnosis was obtained in all patients, but six of the 90 trajectories were nondiagnostic; all six were based on targets defined by CT only. Differences between the diagnostic yield of trajectories based on FDG-PET—defined targets and those based on CT-defined targets were statistically significant in patients with contrast-enhanced lesions, but not in patients with nonenhancing lesions. These results support the view the FDG-PET may contribute to the successful management of brain tumor patients requiring stereotactic biopsy. Because no significant increase in discomfort or morbidity related to the technique was found, it is suggested that the development of similar techniques integrating PET data in the planning of stereotactic biopsy should be considered by centers performing stereotactic surgery and having access to PET technology.


1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhaya V. Kulkarni ◽  
Abhijit Guha ◽  
Andres Lozano ◽  
Mark Bernstein

Object. Many neurosurgeons routinely obtain computerized tomography (CT) scans to rule out hemorrhage in patients after stereotactic procedures. In the present prospective study, the authors investigated the rate of silent hemorrhage and delayed deterioration after stereotactic biopsy sampling and the role of postbiopsy CT scanning. Methods. A subset of patients (the last 102 of approximately 800 patients) who underwent stereotactic brain biopsies at the Toronto Hospital prospectively underwent routine postoperative CT scanning within hours of the biopsy procedure. Their medical charts and CT scans were then reviewed. A postoperative CT scan was obtained in 102 patients (aged 17–87 years) who underwent stereotactic biopsy between June 1994 and September 1996. Sixty-one patients (59.8%) exhibited hemorrhages, mostly intracerebral (54.9%), on the immediate postoperative scan. Only six of these patients were clinically suspected to have suffered a hemorrhage based on immediate postoperative neurological deficit; in the remaining 55 (53.9%) of 102 patients, the hemorrhage was clinically silent and unsuspected. Among the clinically silent intracerebral hemorrhages, 22 measured less than 5 mm, 20 between 5 and 10 mm, five between 10 and 30 mm, and four between 30 and 40 mm. Of the 55 patients with clinically silent hemorrhages, only three demonstrated a delayed neurological deficit (one case of seizure and two cases of progressive loss of consciousness) and these all occurred within the first 2 postoperative days. Of the neurologically well patients in whom no hemorrhage was demonstrated on initial postoperative CT scan, none experienced delayed deterioration. Conclusions. Clinically silent hemorrhage after stereotactic biopsy is very common. However, the authors did not find that knowledge of its existence ultimately affected individual patient management or outcome. The authors, therefore, suggest that the most important role of postoperative CT scanning is to screen for those neurologically well patients with no hemorrhage. These patients could safely be discharged on the same day they underwent biopsy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. E124-E129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiri Bartek ◽  
Gerald Cooray ◽  
Mominul Islam ◽  
Margret Jensdottir

Abstract BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Stereotactic brain biopsy (SB) is an important part of the neurosurgical armamentarium, with the possibility of achieving histopathological diagnosis in otherwise inaccessible lesions of the brain. Nevertheless, the procedure is not without the risk of morbidity, which is especially true for lesions in eloquent parts of the brain, where even a minor adverse event can result in significant deficits. Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) is widely used to chart lesions in eloquent areas, successfully guiding maximal safe resection, while its potential role in aiding with the planning of a stereotactic biopsy is so far unexplored. CLINICAL PRESENTATION Magnetic resonance imaging of a 67-yr-old woman presenting with dysphasia revealed a noncontrast enhancing left-sided lesion in the frontal and parietal pars opercularis. Due to the location of the lesion, nTMS was used to chart both primary motor and language cortex, utilizing this information to plan a safe SB trajectory and sampling area according to the initial work-up recommendations from the multidisciplinary neuro-oncology board. The SB was uneventful, with histology revealing a ganglioglioma, WHO I. The patient was discharged the following day, having declined to proceed with tumor resection (awake surgery) due to the non-negligible risk of morbidity. Upon 1- and 3-mo follow-up, she showed no signs of any procedure-related deficits. CONCLUSION nTMS can be implemented to aid with the planning of a stereotactic biopsy procedure in eloquent areas of the brain, and should be considered part of the neurosurgical armamentarium.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 78-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin Taweesomboonyat ◽  
Thara Tunthanathip ◽  
Sakchai Sae-Heng ◽  
Thakul Oearsakul

Background: With the advancement of neuronavigation technologies, frameless stereotactic brain biopsy has been developed. Previous studies proved that frameless stereotactic brain biopsy was as effective and safe as frame-based stereotactic brain biopsy. The authors aimed to find the factors associated with diagnostic yield and complication rate of frameless intracranial biopsy. Materials and Methods: Frameless stereotactic brain biopsy procedures, between March 2009 and April 2017, were retrospectively reviewed from medical records including imaging studies. Using logistic regression analysis, various factors were analyzed for association with diagnostic yield and postoperative complications. Results: Eighty-nine frameless stereotactic brain biopsy procedures were performed on 85 patients. The most common pathology was primary central nervous system lymphoma (43.8%), followed by low-grade glioma (15.7%), and high-grade glioma (15%), respectively. The diagnostic yield was 87.6%. Postoperative intracerebral hematoma occurred in 19% of cases; however, it was symptomatic in only one case. The size of the lesion was associated with both diagnostic yield and postoperative intracerebral hematoma complication. Lesions, larger than 3 cm in diameter, were associated with a higher rate of positive biopsy result (P = 0.01). Lesion 3 cm or smaller than 3 cm in diameter, and intraoperative bleeding associated with a higher percentage of postoperative intracerebral hematoma complications (P = 0.01). Conclusions: For frameless stereotactic brain biopsy, the size of the lesion is the essential factor determining diagnostic yield and postoperative intracerebral hematoma complication.


Author(s):  
PJ Gariscsak ◽  
C Gui ◽  
JC Lau ◽  
JF Megyesi

Background: Historically, frame-based stereotactic brain biopsy (SBB) has played an important role in the diagnosis of intracranial lesions. We performed a single centre analysis of the outcomes and efficacy of SBB at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of frame-based SBB from 2006 to 2017 at the LHSC. Intra-operative and final pathology reports were analyzed for biopsy diagnosis and the diagnosis was compared with pre-operative neuroimaging reports for correlation. SBB-associated morbidity and mortality were investigated using chart review and post-operative neuroimaging. Results: 173 consecutive patients were identified. The overall morbidity rate was 8.7% (15 cases) and mortality rate was 0.6% (1 case). Final biopsy diagnostic accuracy was 96%, intra-operative diagnostic accuracy was 94% and pre-operative imaging diagnostic accuracy was 65%. Elevated partial thromboplastin time and the presence of hemorrhage on post-operative CT were associated with neurological morbidity and mortality. The need to obtain three or greater samples the time of biopsy was associated with non-diagnostic biopsy. Conclusions: At the LHSC, SBB is a relatively safe and effective surgical procedure with high diagnostic yield and relatively low risk of complications. Intra-operative pathology has a high efficacy in determining diagnosis when compared to final pathology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 415-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis A Morell ◽  
Ashish H Shah ◽  
Claudio Cavallo ◽  
Daniel G Eichberg ◽  
Christopher A Sarkiss ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Because less-invasive techniques can obviate the need for brain biopsy in the diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), it is common practice to wait for a thorough initial work-up, which may delay treatment. We conducted a systematic review and reviewed our own series of patients to define the role of LP and early brain biopsy in the diagnosis of PCNSL. Methods Our study was divided into 2 main sections: 1) systematic review assessing the sensitivity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis on the diagnosis of PCNSL, and 2) a retrospective, single-center patient series assessing the diagnostic accuracy and safety of early biopsy in immunocompetent PCNSL patients treated at our institution from 2012 to 2018. Results Our systematic review identified 1481 patients with PCNSL. A preoperative LP obviated surgery in 7.4% of cases. Brain biopsy was the preferred method of diagnosis in 95% of patients followed by CSF (3.1%). In our institutional series, brain biopsy was diagnostic in 92.3% of cases (24/26) with 2 cases that required a second procedure for diagnosis. Perioperative morbidity was noted in 7.6% of cases (n = 2) due to hemorrhages after stereotactic brain biopsy that improved at follow-up. Conclusions The diagnostic yield of CSF analyses for PCNSL in immunocompetent patients remains exceedingly low. Our institutional series demonstrates that early biopsy for PCNSL is safe and accurate, and may avert protracted work-ups. We conclude that performing an early brain biopsy in a suspected case of PCNSL is a valid, safe option to minimize diagnostic delay.


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