Present status of laser neurosurgery.

A three-fold approach to the status of laser neurosurgery was taken: 1) Questionnaire to Program Directors for neurosurgery training in the United States and Canada; 2) an analysis of titles in the preliminary neurosurgery program of the Fifth International Congress of Neurosurgery; 3) A literature survey covering the last 3 years of publication. The results showed increasing interest in the use of lasers in neurosurgery, especially for neoplasms in brain and spinal canal. The CO2 laser still dominates the field but Neodymium YAG is also finding wide use. The author comments on directions that laser neurosurgery may take in the future. Special emphasis is made on new applications combining advanced technologies, including CAT scanning, ultrasonography, stereotaxic techniques, and computer control.