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Virginia Tech

A New Device for Stereotactic ct-Guided Biopsy of the Canine Brain: Design, Construction, and Needle Placement Accuracy

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Computed tomography (CT) is an imaging technique that uses x-ray and computers to create cross-sectional images of structures. Stereotactic CT-guided biopsy is defined as the use of a stable apparatus to direct and perform tissue biopsies under CT guidance. For the brain, the principal advantage of stereotactic CT guidance over other biopsy techniques is its high accuracy in getting a sample from deep-seated lesions. The objectives of this study were to create an inexpensive CT-guided stereotactic device adaptable to different canine head sizes and to test the accuracy of the device for needle placement in deep-seated brain targets. A biopsy device was created that consists of four main components: a CT table fixation device, a head fixture, a needle fixture , and motion control system. Accuracy was tested using 16 head and neck specimens obtained from dogs euthanitized for reasons unrelated to the brain. Deep-seated (caudate nucleus and pituitary gland) targets were identified on CT. After a 5 mm craniotomy, the biopsy needle, with CT monitoring, was progressively introduced into the target. The final needle track distance was measured on CT. The brain was removed and sliced to verify placement of the needle tip within the target and to measure the actual needle track distance. The total cost of materials and construction for the stereotactic CT-guided biopsy device was $785.00. No difference in needle placement accuracy was identified for caudate and pituitary targets. Based on assessments by 2 independent observers, the caudate target was successfully hit 75% of the time. Pituitary targets were successfully hit 96.8 % of the time. Actual needle track lengths were an average of 3.2 mm less that the track length measured on CT. This difference was most likely due to incomplete staining of the bevel part of the needle track on gross specimens.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Veterinary Medical Sciences
Department dc:contributor.department
Veterinary Medical Sciences
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2000

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Giroux, Alain G.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Jones, Jeryl C.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Inzana, Karen D.
  • Waldron, Don R.
  • Duncan, Robert B. Jr.
  • Bohn, Jan Helge

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-06132000-18060049
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33546

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Giroux, Alain G.. A New Device for Stereotactic ct-Guided Biopsy of the Canine Brain: Design, Construction, and Needle Placement Accuracy. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33546