Stereotactic craniotomy.

Computed tomography-based stereotactic biopsy procedures for diagnosing intracranial tumors are common today. In addition, point stereotaxis is used to center a craniotomy over a superficial lesion or to find a deep one. Technical innovations have improved performance of these operations. The author describes the instrumentation and current methodology for computer-assisted stereotactic laser microsurgical extirpation of intra-axial lesions and discusses the results.