CT-directed BRW stereotactic neurosurgery: local experience with 42 cases.

Initial experience with the Brown-Roberts-Wells (BRW) computed tomographic (CT)-guided stereotactic system is reported. Forty-two procedures were performed over a 22-month period on 21 female and 20 male patients (one patient had a repeat procedure). Their ages ranged from 11 years to 89 years. These included 21 stereotactic biopsy procedures, 2 stereotactic implantations of third ventricular catheters through the foramen of Monro for intraventricular opiate insertion in terminal cancer patients, 2 stereotactic aspirations for brain abscess, 10 stereotactic aspirations of intracerebral haematomas, 3 stereotactic aspirations of cystic brain tumours, 1 stereotactic placement of a fourth ventricle-peritoneal shunt and lastly 3 stereotactic craniotomies. Successful targeting was achieved in all cases. There was one operation-related complication which resulted in uncontrollable intracerebral haemorrhage and ultimately led to the patient's demise.