The evolution of more sophisticated imaging techniques has initiated a renewed interest in stereotactic devices, methods, and applications. The Brown-Roberts-Wells instrument was available to us early in its prototype stage, and this report reviews the first 500 cases using the system at the University of Southern California Medical Center Hospitals. Procedures were undertaken after recognition of apparent structural alterations on imaging studies, with objectives being both diagnostic and therapeutic. Target locations were predominantly within the cerebral centrum-basal ganglia (284 cases) and diencephalic-mesencephalic regions (129 cases). Operative objectives included: histological and microbiological assay, cyst and abscess aspiration, installation of temporary or permanent drainage conduits, point source and colloid base brachytherapy, cerebroscopy and ventriculoscopy with biopsy, aspiration, and excision, and intraoperative vascular localization. Using multiple instrumentation at the target point (741 point placements), we realized procedural objectives in 95.6% of the cases. The mortality was 0.2% and the morbidity was 1%: hematoma, 2 cases; infection, 1 case; increased deficit, 1 case; intraprocedural seizure, 1 case. A specific diagnosis was not obtained in 4.4% (necrosis, 10 cases; inflammatory response, 9 cases; granuloma, 1 case; gliosis, 1 case; diagnostic error, 1 case). Individual guidelines for case selection, technique, institutional requirements, and applications of the method are discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Infestations of the human brain with the larval stage of Taenia solium, once an infrequent diagnosis in the United States, is now a more frequently encountered clinical entity especially in population centers with high immigrant flux. During a recent 5-year period 45 cases of intraventricular cysticerosis have been evaluated and treated. Modes of involvement included isolated cyst formation, ependymitis, or combinations of both. Evidence of associated parenchymatous involvement was present in 20% of cases. Sites of infestation included the lateral ventricle (five cases), third ventricle (12 cases), Sylvian aqueduct (four cases), and fourth ventricle (24 cases). Mean post-therapy follow-up periods for this series exceed 36 months. This experience indicates that direct excision is the treatment of choice for ventricular cystic lesions, but that management, operative planning, and expectations should be influenced by considerations of: 1) the potential for acute clinical deterioration (38%); 2) the potential for cyst migration; 3) attendant ependymitis, defined by computerized tomography or verified at surgery; 4) the potential for increase in cyst volume with local mass effect; 5) selection and institution of corridors of surgical access that establish alternative routes of cerebrospinal fluid flow; and 6) the possibility of cyst excision by a stereotaxic endoscopic procedure.

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Magnetic resonance imaging-based volumetric measurement is a sensitive method in the assessment of morphological changes of PD in vivo. The putamen atrophy was correlated with the severity of clinical findings. The volumetric measurement of putamen could potentially be a useful indicator of PD in the early stage.