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Minim Invasive Neurosurg 1997; 40(4): 134-138
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1053434
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Cavernous Malformations: From Frame-Based to Frameless Stereotactic Localization

K. Ungersböck1 , M. Aichholzer1 , M. Günthner1 , K. Rössler1 , H. Görzer2 , W. T. Koos1
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria
  • 2Department of Neuroradiology, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria
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Publication History

Publication Date:
18 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

An exact surgical approach to cavernous malformations, in particular those located in areas of critical brain function, is important for their microsurgical resection without putting to much strain on the patient. During a two-year period, 29 cavernoma resections were performed. Stereotactic guidance was performed in 16 cases (55.2%). Nine cavernomas located in the supratentorial region were resected using the stereotactic operating microscope “MKM”, which represents 21.6% of a total of 51 MKM-navigated operations; in one further case system referencing failed. The experience gathered with this frameless stereotactic system is compared to a retrospective analysis of 5 frame-based stereotactic cavernoma localizations. Frameless stereotactic localization has been shown to be sufficiently accurate but more advantageous than frame-based techniques in terms of utility, ease of integration, and detailed image-guided anatomical information. Software improvements have resulted in a high stability of the frameless stereotactic system.

Key words

Stereotactic techniques - Image-guided resection - Cavernous angiomas - Occult vascular malformation

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