A technique has been developed in our laboratory for obtaining, with speed and precision, small biopsy specimens from specific, predetermined brain regions. Tissues obtained by this technique are suitable for electron microscopy, histochemical, and tissue culture studies.
Material and Methods
The stereotaxic-biopsy technique has been employed with cats, monkeys, and 3 human patients. The technique for obtaining a biopsy specimen is quite similar in animals and humans.
Localization with the Human Stereotaxic Instrument.—
The stereotaxic instrument (Fig. 1) used with human subjects in this study was designed and constructed in our departmental laboratories. The details of construction of the instrument are described elsewhere.1 The procedure employed in locating the target area from which the biopsy tissue is to be obtained in a human subject is as follows.After anesthesia, either general or local, depending upon the patient's condition, a conventional pneumoencephalogram is taken with the patient on the operating