Introduction of a newly created AW stereotactic frame: a phantom-based accuracy evaluation and an initial experience in clinical usage

Abstract

Background

A new stereotactic frame was created in 2015, based on a linear algorithm. It is called Albert Wong (AW) frame. A simple AW stereo-calculator was also designed based on Excel^® (Microscoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) programme for the frame.

Objective

The aim of this study is to test the accuracy of the AW frame by a direct head to head comparison with CRW^® frame (Integra Life Sciences, Plainsboro, NJ) on a phantom.

Methods

This is a prospective pilot cross-sectional phantom study with a total of 42 (21 for AW and 21 for CRW^®) laboratory testings performed in 2017 at our institute to compare the accuracies of both frames in a consecutive manner. A phantom (BL phantom) was newly created, where targets can be placed at different heights and positions on a platform attached under the frame for accuracy testing comparing between the AW and CRW^® frames.

Results

A comparable accuracy testing results were observed between the AW and CRW^® frames of 0.64 mm versus 1.07 mm respectively. Approval from the local ethics committee for a clinical trial was obtained. We report on three case illustrations who had the AW frame-based biopsies with definitive diagnoses and without any post-biopsy related complication.

Conclusion

AW frame successfully demonstrated a good accuracy of 0.64 mm in phantom testing using the BL phantom by a linear algorithmic calculation. The clinical trial with three patients demonstrated definitive diagnoses and safety with its use.

Keywords:

• Stereotactic
• AW frame
• CRW^® frame
• biopsy
• accuracy
• phantom

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the support from Dr. Zin Hing Chin (Director of SGH), all the participating neurosurgeons in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Dr. Muadzam bin Mohamad (Head of Radiology, SGH), Dr. Jacqueline Wong (Head of Pathology, SGH), Dr. Shu Ching Teo (Head of Aneasthesiology, SGH), Dr. Peter Tan (Neuro-anaesthesiologist, SGH) and Engineers Mr Jackie Fook Fah Chow with Dr. Gilbert Sii Chung Wong PhD in the conduct of this study. I would like to thank Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham bin Abdullah (Director General of Health Malaysia) for his permission to publish this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).