We evaluate two different methods, ultrasound (US) guidance and stereotactic guidance,
routinely used in our Department for navigation in various neurosurgical procedures.
We have performed 53 US-guided and 101 stereotactic-guided procedures. These procedures
were intracranial lesion biopsies, intracranial cysts and abscesses puncture and evacuations,
ventricular punctures for hydrocephalus shunt operations, stereotactic-guided microneurosurgical
resections, and stereotactic-guided endoscopic operations. Advantages of the US-guided
operations are the shortness of the procedure, simplicity (no need for moving patient
for additional CT scanning), no irradiation and the possibility of real-time imaging.
The disadvantages of the US-guided procedures are worse resolution of the images in
deep-seated and small lesions as well as the need for a bigger trepanation because
of the transducer's dimensions. Stereotactic procedures are time-consuming but more
precise and usually done in local anaesthesia because only a small trepanation is
required. Main disadvantage of the stereotactic-guided procedures when compared with
the US-guided procedures is a lack of real-time intraoperative control. According
to our experience, both methods are complementary and safe and they do not cause any
additional complications when used as a navigation tool in microneurosurgical operations.
Both methods are highly reliable when used in properly selected patients.
Key words:
Neurosurgery - Ultrasound - Stereotaxis - Brain Lesions
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Corresponding Author
Z Heinrich
Department of Neurosurgery University Clinical Centre Zagreb
Kišpatićeva 12 10000 Zagreb Croatia
Telefon: Phone:+38512421873
Fax: Fax:+38512421873
eMail: E-mail:Zdravko.heinrich@zg.tel.hr
