Stereotactic Biopsies for Tumors: Indications, Limits, Diagnosis with Histopathology and other Laboratory Techniques

Abstract

The concept of stereotactic neurosurgery was introduced by Horsley and Clarke [4] on an experimental basis to explore the primate brain in 1905. This technology was adapted to the human brain by Spiegel and Wycis in 1947 [13] and subsequently stereotactic neurosurgical techniques have been applied not only for examination in the treatment for movement disorders and of chronic pain syndromes, but also in the management of brain tumors. With the development of CT scanning in the 1970s and of MRI scanning in the 1980s the use of stereotactic brain biopsy increasingly became widespread and was found to improve diagnostic yield of histological diagnosis with low morbidity and mortality, even in deep seated and highly eloquent areas.