PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Whiting, Donald M.
AU  - Barnett, Gene H.
AU  - Estes, Melinda L.
AU  - Sila, Cathy A.
AU  - Rudick, Richard A.
AU  - Hassenbusch, Samuel J.
AU  - Lanzieri, Charles F.
TI  - Stereotactic biopsy of nonneoplastic lesions in adults
DP  - 1992 Jan 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 48--55
VI  - 59
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/59/1/48.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/59/1/48.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med1992 Jan 01; 59
AB  - Stereotactic biopsy of intracranial lesions has been used primarily for the diagnosis of neoplastic lesions. A series of 158 consecutive stereotactic biopsies performed at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation resulted in 28 diagnoses of non-neoplastic disorders (18%). The majority of these were infectious, inflammatory, or demyelinating disorders. Stereotactic biopsy alone was diagnostic in 17 cases (61%), and biopsy in conjunction with clinical and laboratory data established definitive diagnoses in six cases (22%). All 23 definitive diagnoses led to modifications in patient management. Permanent neurologic morbidity occurred in only two patients (7%). We maintain that this procedure is underused. Stereotactic biopsy is safe, accurate, and useful for diagnosis of non-neoplastic neurologic disorders when the diagnosis is unclear by conventional means. In such cases, its use can lead to early diagnosis and treatment.