Kidney Biopsy

Biopsy, Kidney, Percutaneous Renal Biopsy, Renal Biopsy

What To Think About

• A kidney biopsy is done after other tests for kidney disease (such as blood and urine tests, ultrasound, and a CT scan) have not been able to tell what kind of kidney problem is present. A kidney biopsy has more chance for problems than these other tests and a high rate of false-negative results. More than one biopsy may be needed. For more information, see the medical tests Abdominal Ultrasound and CT Scan of the Body.
• A kidney biopsy will not be done if kidney cancer is suspected. Surgery to remove the kidney will likely be recommended in this situation.
• Open kidney biopsy and ureteroscopy are two other methods that may be used to take kidney tissue samples. You will stay overnight in the hospital for these biopsies.
  • An open kidney biopsy is a surgery done in an operating room while you are asleep (general anesthesia). A cut (incision) is made through the back or the side and a small piece of kidney tissue is taken out. Open biopsy is often done when a tumor is present. It may also be done when a person has only one working kidney, to lower the chance of injuring the good kidney.
  • Ureteroscopy with biopsy is often done if there is a mass in the renal pelvis or ureter. Ureteroscopy is a surgery done in an operating room under spinal or general anesthesia. A long thin flexible tube (ureteroscope) is used to look inside the ureter and lower part of the kidney (renal pelvis). Once the mass is found, a biopsy is done through the ureteroscope.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: September 29, 2008
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Tushar J. Vachharajani, MD, FASN, FACP - Nephrology
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