What is a craniotomy?

A craniotomy is the surgical removal of part of the bone from the skull to expose the brain. Specialized tools are used to remove the
section of bone called the bone flap. The bone flap is temporarily removed, then replaced after the brain surgery has been
performed.
Some craniotomy procedures may utilize the guidance of computers and imaging (calledintraoperative monitoring) to reach the
precise location within the brain that is to be treated. This technique requires the use of a frame placed onto the skull or a frameless
system using superficially placed markers on the scalp. When either of these imaging procedures is used along with the craniotomy
procedure, it is called stereotactic craniotomy.
Scans made of the brain, in conjunction with these computers and localizing frames, provide a three-dimensional image, for
example, of a tumor within the brain. It is useful in making the distinction between tumor tissue and healthy tissue and reaching the
precise location of the abnormal tissue.
Other uses include stereotactic biopsy of the brain (a needle is guided into an abnormal area so that a piece of tissue may be
removed for examination under a microscope), stereotactic aspiration (removal of fluid from abscesses, hematomas, or cysts),
and stereotactic radiosurgery.