Stereotactic

Stereotactic Surgery

Stereotactic surgery, also known as stereotaxy or stereotaxis, is a minimally invasive form of surgical intervention that makes use of a three-dimensional coordinate system to locate small targets inside the body and to perform actions such as ablation, biopsy, lesion, injection, stimulation, implantation, and radiosurgery. This technique is primarily used in the brain, but can also be applied to other parts of the body.

History

The concept of stereotactic surgery was first introduced in 1908 by two British scientists, Victor Horsley and Robert H. Clarke, who developed the first stereotactic apparatus for animal research. The first human stereotactic device was developed by Ernest A. Spiegel and Henry T. Wycis in 1947.

Principles

Stereotactic surgery relies on the use of a stereotactic frame or a frameless system, along with imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) to guide the surgeon. The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Imaging: High-resolution images of the target area are obtained. 2. Planning: The images are used to plan the trajectory and target coordinates. 3. Registration: The patient is positioned in a stereotactic frame or a frameless system is used to correlate the images with the physical space. 4. Targeting: The surgical instrument is guided to the target using the coordinates. 5. Intervention: The planned surgical action is performed.

Applications

Stereotactic surgery is used in various medical fields, including:

- Neurosurgery: For the treatment of Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and brain tumors. - Radiation therapy: Known as stereotactic radiosurgery, used for treating small brain tumors and arteriovenous malformations. - Biopsy: For obtaining tissue samples from hard-to-reach areas.

Advantages

- Precision: Allows for high precision in targeting small areas. - Minimally invasive: Reduces the need for large incisions. - Reduced recovery time: Patients often experience quicker recovery compared to traditional surgery.

Limitations

- Complexity: Requires sophisticated equipment and expertise. - Cost: Can be expensive due to the technology involved. - Limited access: Not all medical centers have the capability to perform stereotactic procedures.

Also see

- Neurosurgery - Radiosurgery - Image-guided surgery - Minimally invasive surgery

Resources

Latest articles - Stereotactic

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Source: Data courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Since the data might have changed, please query MeSH on Stereotactic for any updates.

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