Intraoperative sonography for brain tumor localization and ventricular shunt placement.

Intraoperative sonography using portable real-time equipment at the dural or brain surface in 16 patients provided accurate localization of a variety of brain lesions for direct dissectional or needle aspiration biopsies as well as for decompression of cysts. The technique has proven to be reliable and rapid, reducing brain exploration in the search for small or poorly accessible lesions and eliminating complex stereotactic procedures. Ventricular shunt catheter placement was also monitored intraoperatively in two infants.