Definition of Brain biopsy

Brain biopsy: a biopsy is a surgical procedure in which a small tissue sample is removed and sent to a pathologist for examination under a microscope. In a brain biopsy, a small sample of brain tissue is removed to help diagnose certain conditions such as brain tumors or lesions on the brain.

One way a brain biopsy  may be done is by stereotactic needle biopsy in which the spot to be biopsied is located three-dimensionally, the information is entered into a computer, and the computer calculates the information and positions a needle to remove the biopsy sample. A brain biopsy may be done in search of evidence for or against a brain tumor, Alzheimer's disease, an inflammatory process in the brain, and so. A brain biopsy can be a invaluable source of diagnostic information but it is not without risks.