• Andrea Carai, Angela Mastronuzzi, Alessandro De Benedictis, Raffaella Messina, Antonella Cacchione, Evelina Miele, Franco Randi, Giacomo Esposito, Andrea Trezza, Giovanna Stefania Colafati, Alessandra Savioli, Franco Locatelli, and Carlo Efisio Marras.
• Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
• World Neurosurg. 2017 May 1; 101: 584-588.

BackgroundDiffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a childhood tumor with a dismal prognosis. Emerging molecular signatures have paved the way for stereotactic biopsy in selected centers. We present our experience in DIPG stereotactic needle biopsy using the Robotic Stereotactic-Assisted system (ROSA) in a series of consecutive pediatric patients.MethodsAll stereotactic biopsy procedures for DIPG performed during the last year at our institution were considered. All procedures were carried out using the ROSA surgical assistant through a precoronary approach. All children underwent a postoperative computed tomography scan to document possible surgical complications and confirm the site of biopsy. Postoperative clinical changes were recorded to test morbidity of the procedure.ResultsIn the last year, we performed 7 pontine needle biopsies. Specimens were diagnostic and useful for molecular analysis in all cases. No surgical complications were observed. One child showed a transient neurologic worsening related to the biopsy that resolved within 2 weeks. The combination of the precoronary approach and use of the stereotactic ROSA system allowed single-session surgeries in all cases.ConclusionsPontine biopsy for DIPG is a safe procedure in selected centers. The advantages of the single-session procedure we described might be of particular interest in the pediatric setting.Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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