Abstract
Tissue sampling of brain tumors is generally performed by biopsy with large or small craniotomy and stereotaxic brain biopsy. Recently, Stealth Autoguide, a robotic system for stereotactic deep electrode implantation and brain tumor biopsy in epilepsy, has become available. We report the initial experience of brain tumor surgery using stealth Autoguide in our hospital.Case: A man in his 70s. Left paralysis occurred during chemotherapy for esophageal cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a ring-enhanced lesion from the right basal ganglia to the coronal radiatum. Because he was under steroid administration, he was diagnosed with metastatic brain tumor, malignant lymphoma, malignant glioma, or demyelinating disease. Since paralysis was progressing and MRS was suspected to be a malignant tumor, a stereotactic biopsy using a stealth autoguide was performed. Biopsies were performed with skin incisions of 1 cm or less from two locations that were automatically positioned based on the preoperative planning, and a sufficient amount of tissue was collected from the lesions. No complications such as bleeding were observed. Since the histological diagnosis was glioblastoma, chemotherapy with temozolomide and radiotherapy were promptly started.Brain tumor biopsy using stealth Autoguide allows accurate tissue sampling in a short period of time, and is a very useful tool for brain tumor diagnosis in the future.