Transtubular excisional biopsy as a rescue for a non-diagnostic stereotactic needle biopsy-case report and literature review

Stereotactic needle biopsy, a standard of care for acquiring deep-seated pathology, has limitations and risks in some situations. We present an uncommon case with basal ganglia dematiaceous mycetoma. Due to the firm consistency of the lesion, the initial stereotactic needle biopsy failed to provide a diagnosis. In a second operation, transtubular excisional biopsy was successfully performed to remove the entire mycetoma. We reviewed recent case series of transtubular approaches to deep-seated brain lesions and suggest this method could be a rescue for a non-diagnostic stereotactic needle biopsy and even may be the approach of choice in some cases.