Biopsy refers to the most important diagnostic methods of oncology, since it is this procedure that makes it possible to determine for sure that a tumor of what kind is formed in the brain or spinal cord.
Although in neurosurgery the importance of such a diagnosis is not so significant as in other oncospheres. Specialists explain this fact by the necessity to remove cerebral tumors, regardless of their nature.
Indications for
In most cases, a brain biopsy is assigned to determine the nature of tumor formation.
A biopsy is also indicated for diagnosis:
- Degenerative headaches such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc.;
- Inflammatory processes;
- Multiple Sclerosis;
- A biopsy is performed in cases of impossible differentiation of the tumor with hematomas, abscess, granulomas, or demyelination.
Also similar diagnostics allows to find passing pathologies of inflammatory or infectious nature.
When it comes to bone marrow biopsy, it is shown:
- To determine anemic etiology;
- For the detection of bone marrow metastases;
- To determine the effectiveness of treatment of blood pathologies;
- For the diagnosis of various kinds of leukemia;
- For the detection of myelodysplastic syndrome.
A bone marrow biopsy sampling requires a special accuracy and clear visualization from the doctor, because the slightest damage to the cerebrospinal structures is fraught with unforeseen complications.
Contraindications
Among the contraindications to the procedure of biopsy can be identified: violations of blood flow, the location of the cerebral tumor in the most important departments( in the brainstem, etc.) of the brain, the presence of system pathologies, etc.
Types of biopsy of the bone and brain
Gastrointestinal biopsy is carried out in various ways:
- Open - when a bio sample is taken during the surgical procedure. This method of biopsy is the most common and is performed with the application of general anesthesia. The doctor removes part of the cranial bone, then the formation is removed. Biopsy in the process of operative intervention is combined with a certain risk, therefore it requires a longer recovery.
- Stereotactic is a minimally invasive technique for obtaining a biopsy. It passes under computer or magnetic resonance control, which ensures the highest safety of the procedure, since the needle moves as accurately as possible. Simultaneously with the sampling of the bio-sample, a visual inspection of the formation is carried out.
- Puncture - this method involves drilling holes in the skull, through which the thinnest needle is inserted and the biopsy is taken.
Preparation of
Specialized training for conducting a biopsy head scan is not required.
Do not drink / eat a few hours before the procedure.
The patient pre-tests, passes the diagnosis by other methods such as MRI, ultrasound, CT, etc.
It is recommended that several days before the cerebrospinal biopsy stop taking drugs that have a blood-thinning effect.
Technique for biopsy
The procedure for obtaining a bio sample is performed under operating conditions.
If a technique for stereotactic biopsy is chosen, then a stereotaxic frame is applied - a ring is attached to the patient's head, which fixes the head in a fixed position.
All manipulations are controlled by a computer or magnetic resonance tomograph.
Sometimes a tomography of the brain is done before the procedure, and the obtained data is recorded on the neuronavigation chart. Then there is no need for a stereotactic frame.
- The surgeon makes an incision on the head to the bone, through which a hole is drilled in the skull.
- It introduces a needle in which a micro-video camera and a light source are built.
- Due to this equipment, all manipulations are monitored on the screen. At the end of the procedure, the incision is fixed with a staple or sewed.
If an open biopsy is performed, the site removed from the skull is replaced by a plate or surgical mesh. If there is a cerebral edema or infection, this cranial area is left uncovered( craniotomy).
If a bone marrow sample is to be obtained during the procedure, the biomaterial is usually collected using the biopsy method.
Puncture and stereotaxic method are more or less safe than, for example, an open cerebral biopsy, which is characterized by rather severe complications.
Complications of
Any invasive diagnosis is associated with a certain risk, so a cerebral biopsy can also have negative consequences:
- Stroke;
- Convulsions;
- Infections;
- Comatose;
- Tumor in the area of sampling of the bio-sample.
But the modern possibilities of medicine today are so high that the probability of complications after a biopsy is reduced to a minimum.
Reviews
Larissa:
The dad found 4 tumors in the brain, took tests, underwent MRI.At the doctor a heap of doubts, therefore have appointed or nominated a biopsy of a brain. We went to Burdenko, where they underwent a stereotaxic cerebrospinal biopsy. They were terribly afraid of complications, after all the head. But, thank God, everything went fine. Tumors are benign, but we will still delete.
Anatoly:
At my friend, there were problems with a head. Several times there were epileptic seizures. After the examination, a tumor was found, which is quite large and continues to grow actively. The nature of the tumor was not clear, so a biopsy was prescribed. She and her husband went to Moscow to the Institute of Neurosurgery Burdenko. A biopsy showed that the tumor was benign, but prone to malignancy. Thanks to the timely diagnosis, they started treatment on time, so the death was avoided.
Price
The procedure for a cerebral biopsy is quite expensive.
A video on stereotactic brain tumor biopsy: