Objective: Stereotactic interventions started to play a more important role in current neurosurgery interventions. Superficial craniometric calculations based on anatomical reference points are still valid for determining the location of craniotomy site. We compared these two methods to find the ideal craniotomy place for patients in the planning phase of intracranial surgery.

Material and Method: We used 22 patients with brain tumor which were operated in Dışkapı Education and Research Hospital between 2010-2011. Stereotactic frame has been installed for each patient and ideal entry point was labeled with the frame. The manual calculations were done according to anatomical reference points based on radiological views and labeled. The variations and the distance between the two ideal entry points were calculated on the same patient before the surgery.

Results: The same points were labeled in 11 of 22 patients. The difference between these two points ranged from 5 mm to 3 cm in the other 11 patients. The surgeon’s preference for craniotomy place according to surgery plan made this difference between these two different calculation methods.

Conclusion: Use and education of anatomic markers and craniometric methods is of great importance especially for neurosurgeons in centers without stereotactic frame.