Hh. Engelhard et al., EVALUATION OF THE PELORUS STEREOTAXIC SURGICAL SYSTEM FOR CT-GUIDED STEREOTAXIC BRAIN BIOPSY, Southern medical journal, 86(7), 1993, pp. 760-766
The Pelorus Stereotactic Surgical System is a relatively new, commerci
ally available device that can be used to perform computed tomography
(CT)-guided stereotactic brain biopsy. It has been promoted as being a
relatively simple and inexpensive system that is more rapid, less cum
bersome, and generally easier to use than conventional stereotactic fr
ames. In this paper, we describe the Pelorus System, and report on its
diagnostic accuracy and associated morbidity, based on our experience
with 49 consecutive patients in two institutions. Patients ranging fr
om 7 months to 85 years of age had CT-guided stereotactic biopsy, prim
arily for diagnosis of lesions deep within the cerebral hemispheres. T
wo transfrontal biopsies of the lateral pons were also done. Satisfact
ory tissue for histologic diagnosis was obtained in 42 of 49 patients
(86%). In this series, there were two deaths in the immediate postoper
ative period, unrelated to the use of the Pelorus System. One patient
suffered a transient neurologic deficit, which resolved over a period
of 3 days. Although the Pelorus System has some limitations, we found
it easy to use, well-tolerated by patients, and useful for performing
CT-guided stereotactic biopsy.