Brain biopsy: indications and process
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Brain biopsy: indications and process. Central nervous system disease in immunosuppressed patients. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Indications for brain biopsy
- Central nervous system disease in immunosuppressed patients
- Rapidly progressive dementia
- Confirmation of dementia type
- Suspected Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD)
- Suspected toxoplasmosis in HIV
- Cerebral vasculitis
- Atypical demyelination e.g. tumefactive
- Uncertain infection
- Uncertain malignancy
Procedural checklist
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Evaluative approach
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References
- Gilkes CE, Love S, Hardie RJ, Edwards RJ, Scolding NJ, Rice CM. Brain biopsy in benign neurological disease. J Neurol 2012; 259:995-1000.
- Lee AM, Bai HX, Zou Y, et al. Safety and diagnostic value of brain biopsy in HIV patients: a case series and meta-analysis of 1209 patients. JNNP 2016; 87:722-733.
- Schott JM, Reiniger L, Thom M, et al. Brain biopsy in dementia: clinical indications and diagnostic approach. Acta Neuropathol 2010; 220:327-341.
- Warren JD, Schott JM, Fox NC, et al. Brain biopsy in dementia. Brain 2005; 128:2016-2025.
