Renal biopsy

Last updated: Thursday, 25, March, 2004

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Item Process
Specimen

Percutaneous needle biopsy or open surgical biopsy. 

FNAB (mass lesions). 

Renal biopsies require special collection procedures and should be done only in centres with appropriate facilities and after consultation with laboratory staff.

Method

Fresh tissue: for immunofluorescence and for molecular genetics of some renal tumours.

Fixed tissue: for light microscopy (some laboratories use special fixatives), immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy (special fixative).

Application

Acute renal failure; 
glomerular haematuria; 
some cases of nephrotic syndrome and isolated proteinuria; 
assessment of renal involvement in systemic disease;
suspected renal neoplasm; and
following renal transplantation to distinguish rejection from other causes of deterioration in renal function.

Interpretation

Categorisation of glomerulonephritis and other glomerulopathies (eg, diabetes mellitus, amyloid, hereditary renal disease), interstitial nephritis and renal vascular disease.

Monitoring transplant rejection.

Diagnosis of drug toxicity and systemic disease affecting the kidneys (eg, vasculitis).

Identification of tumour type and grade.

Reference

Croker BP and Tisher CC.In: Schrier RW ed. Diseases of the Kidney and Urinary Tract. 7th ed. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins 2001.