Role of stereotactic biopsy in the management of transplant patients with intracranial lesions.

Appropriate treatment of an intracranial lesion is based upon establishing a definitive diagnosis. CT-stereotactic biopsy procedures are highly accurate, are associated with few complications, and are usually performed only with local anesthesia. Stereotactic biopsy is the preferred method for histologically confirming the nature of an intracranial lesion in the immunocompromised patient. The mortality and morbidity approach 1 per cent, respectively. In the large reported series of stereotactic surgery for biopsy, diagnostic accuracy is over 95 per cent. Stereotactic techniques can also be used to aspirate abscesses or localize abscesses or neoplastic lesions excised by craniotomy.