Stereotactic Brain Tumour Biopsy

What is a stereotactic brain tumour biopsy?

Stereotactic brain tumour biopsy refers to the less intrusive surgical resection of a small piece of a brain tumour for detailed analysis to confirm the type and nature of a brain lesion.

How do you perform a stereotactic brain tumour biopsy?

A machine is used to map your head to a scan done prior to the surgery. This works like a GPS to determine the exact location of the brain tumour and is known as Neuronavigation. A small hole is made in the skull in a location determined with the assistance of the Neuronavigation and a needle is passed through the hole in a trajectory and depth calculated by the surgeon on the Neuronavigation machine. Small piece of the tumour are sampled and sent to the laboratory to determine the diagnosis and nature of the lesion.

When the tumours are easily accessible, they can be excised and transferred to histology for further examination. However, deep-seated tumours are not as easily accessible and cannot be excised as easily. For this reason, a professional will need to conduct a detailed examination to prepare for the resection of brain tissue as seamlessly as possible.

A pathologist, a highly trained medical professional, closely analyses the tissue sample to categorize its type and grade. This information is crucial when deciding on a suitable treatment plan. Treatment may involve active surveillance, which involves closely monitoring the lesion, preparing for the resection of the tumour or other additional forms of treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation. Treatment is entirely dependent on the type, severity and location of the tumour.

A stereotactic brain biopsy leads to a successful prognosis because early detection plays a crucial role in determining a comprehensive, suitable treatment approach. In most cases, a partial or complete brain tumour resection is always considered the best approach towards treatment. This underscores the importance of early detection in ensuring a successful treatment outcome.