Stereotactic craniotomy for lesions in eloquent areas

CT compatible stereotactic systems are being increasingly used in the management of intracranial mass lesions. This study deals with the use of BRW stereotactic system for excisional biopsy of small (<30 mm), superficial, solitary cerebral lesions located in eloquent areas. Out of a total of 113 cases of stereotactic craniotomy carried out in the department since 1987, 78 fitted the above criteria. Out of these 78 patients, 70 lesions (90%) were less than 20 mm in size. Local anaesthesia was used in 10 cases (13%) whereas the rest had general anaesthesia. Cortical incision using standard techniques were used in 51 patients (65%), whereas in 27 patients (35%) excisional biopsy was done using trans-sulcal microsurgical techniques. Twenty-one (41%) patients had some degree of neurological deficit in the immediate postoperative period when a cortical incision was used compared to 4 patients (15%) when a trans-sulcal microsurgical excisional biopsy was done (P < 0.05). However, significant neurological deficits were present in 10 cases (12.8%) and all but two had had cortical incisions. When assessed one month after surgery significant residual deficit was present in only 2 patients (2.5%) who had had cortical incisions. There was no postoperative infection or mortality in this series. CT guided stereotactic craniotomy coupled with trans-sulcal microsurgical techniques can be safely used for the excisional biopsy of small superficial lesions located in eloquent areas of the brain.