Ultrasound sector scanning for the localization and biopsy of intracerebral lesions.

A technique is described for the intraoperative use of ultrasound sector scanning in intracerebral neoplasms (mainly gliomas) for biopsy and for the localization of minor lesions. Altogether, 13 patients underwent sonographic examination: nine had gliomas, one had a meningioma, and three had metastases. Through a trephine hole or a bone flap over the tumor, the ultrasound transducer easily localized the lesion in all cases but one. The striking concordance between the sonogram and the corresponding computerized tomography scan made it easy to take several biopsies from areas where the tumor tissue was suspected to be representative. The results show a close correlation between the biopsy specimen and the specimen obtained at extirpation. In two cases, ultrasonic scanning served as an aid for the surgeon in localizing the tumor prior to removal.