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Objective: To retrospectively review the morbidity and mortality rates associated with stereotactic brainstem lesion biopsy, the success rate and the impact on treatment. Material and methods: Eighty consecutive stereotactic biopsies and literature review were performed to analyze clinical, radiographic and histopathological data. Results: Stereotactic biopsy of brainstem lesions conducted to the diagnosis in 96.3%. One death (1.3% of cases) occurred and 10% morbidity was associated with the procedure. Pathology showed that 65% of the adult brainstem intrinsic lesions were gliomas, 11.3% were metastasis, 8.7% were lymphomas and the remaining tumoral lesions were ganglioglioma, ependymoma and craniopharyngeoma. Non-tumoral lesions were the diagnosis in 11 cases. Conclusion: Empiric treatment of adult brainstem lesions is not prudent, because a wide spectrum of pathologies occur in this location. Stereotactic biopsy is a safe and effective method for determining the diagnostic of these lesions.