CT body stereotaxis: an aid for CT-guided biopsies.

A new body stereotaxic system used to facilitate CT-guided biopsies is described. By scanning through a triangle placed on the patient's skin, the method defines an entry point for the biopsy. An articulating arm is then used to aim the needle at the entry point and hold the needle at the correct angle. The arm can be angled so that complex approaches from one scan plane to another can be made in order to take biopsies of lesions beneath the diaphragm. Using the system, 23 of 25 lesions were hit on the first needle manipulation; two manipulations were needed for each of the other two lesions. In comparison with previous experience, procedure time was decreased and the numbers of needle manipulations and localization scans were decreased 75% and 90%, respectively.