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We thank Mathon et al. for their insightful contribution regarding the efficacy, safety, and choice of trajectory of brainstem lesions stereotactic biopsies.
In their letter, Mathon et al. showed that supratentorial transfrontal approach was the predictor of post-biopsy symptomatic complications, although biopsy trajectory could not be identified as an independent predictor of biopsy-related mortality in a previous study on 1500 consecutive stereotactic biopsies [6]. Other parameters (patient population, nature of the biopsied lesions, or different anaesthesia protocol) might still have an impact on this observation.
On the other side, case series of brainstem stereotactic biopsies performed through a supratentorial transfrontal approach seemed not to show an increased complication rate [1, 5]. Nevertheless, as discussed in our publication [2], we also believe that crossing the entire brainstem or part of it to reach a lesion has intrinsically more complication rate, as, in our experience, (transient) neurological deficits may appear without bleeding and not necessarily at the biopsy location. We also favor a transcerebellar transpeduncular approach as it is the shortest approach and avoids crossing the brainstem, as long as the lesion can be reached and biopsied.
We also agree that the number of collected tissue samples has to be limited as much as possible to avoid complications like bleeding and/or neurological deficits. Thus, beyond the use of intraoperative diagnostic evaluation, the use of fluorescent agents (e.g., 5-ALA), especially for high-grade glioma [4] and lymphoma [3] patients, is certainly helpful in this respect. In our experience, the availability of an experienced neuropathologist is also mandatory to obviate the need for higher numbers of specimens.
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Jaradat, A., Pollo, C. Response to letter: “Stereotactic biopsies of brainstem lesions: dilemma on the best trajectory”. Acta Neurochir 164, 743 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-021-04925-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-021-04925-w