The Viewing Wand is one of the image guided intraoperatively usable navigation systems that are increa singly used in neurosurgery today. Correlation of MRI or CT images with intraoperative anatomy of a patient and so-called image guided neurosurgery allows the neurosurgeon both accurate preoperative planning strategy and minimally destructive approaches to lesions to be removed. After acquiring sufficient experience with the system it is found to be reliable and accurate. The navigation system can thus be used in a wide range of neurosurgical indications including brain tumours, epilepsy surgery, neurovascular surgery, surgery of cranial base lesions and shunt application. In the Neurosurgical Department of Homolka Hospital we have been using the viewing wand system since January 1996 and during the period of 2 years (January 1996 – December 1997) we applied it in 144 intracranial operations (114 operations of brain tumours which is 25.3% of the total number of 450 brain tumours operated during that time). This report discusses the preliminary experience gained by the authors in using the system.

        Key words: neuronavigation, frameless stereotaxis, indications