Skip to main content
Log in

Alternative renal biopsies: past and present

  • Nephrology - Review
  • Published:
International Urology and Nephrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Renal biopsy techniques have been used commonly worldwide for more than 70 years. They play an important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of various renal diseases. Percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) is currently the most important and widely used renal biopsy method. Although >90% of renal biopsies are PRBs, in certain settings, alternative renal biopsy techniques must be used, such as open, laparoscopic, transjugular, and transurethral renal biopsies. This review describes the history, advantages, and disadvantages of the various renal biopsy methods and discusses their current and future uses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gwyn NB (1923) Biopsies and the completion of certain surgical procedures. Can Med Assoc J 13(11):820–823

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Patil J, Bailey GL, Mahoney EF (1974) Open-renal biopsy in uremic patient. Urology 3(3):293–296

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bartone FF, Kim H (1974) Open renal biopsy. New technique. Urology 4(2):182–185

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gonick P, Grau J (1978) Open renal biopsy technique: results in 202 patients. Urology 11(6):568–571

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kawamura N, Murakami Y, Ohkoshi M, Nomoto Y, Endoh M, Tomino Y, Sakai H (1980) Modified open renal biopsy. Tokai J Exp Clin Med 5(1):23–27

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Thomas JH, Pierce GE, Hermreck AS (1983) Open renal biopsy. Surgical technique and results. Am Surg 49(7):400–402

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Nomoto Y, Tomino Y, Endoh M, Suga T, Miura M, Nomoto H, Sakai H (1987) Modified open renal biopsy: results in 934 patients. Nephron 45(3):224–228

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Finan BF, Brewer TE, Hughes RD, Wellons JA (1989) Modified open renal biopsy. An experience with fifty consecutive cases. Am J Nephrol 9(4):300–302

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Iversen P, Brun C (1951) Aspiration biopsy of the kidney. Am J Med 11(3):324–330

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Iversen P, Brun C (1997) Aspiration biopsy of the kidney. 1951. J Am Soc Nephrol: JASN 8(11):1778–1787 (discussion 1778–1786)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kark RM, Muehrcke RC (1954) Biopsy of kidney in prone position. Lancet 266(6821):1047–1049

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Muehrcke RC, Kark RM, Pirani CL (1955) Technique of percutaneous renal biopsy in the prone position. J Urol 74(3):267–277

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Birnholz JC, Kasinath BS, Corwin HL (1985) An improved technique for ultrasound guided percutaneous renal biopsy. Kidney Int 27(1):80–82

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nass K, O’Neill WC (1999) Bedside renal biopsy: ultrasound guidance by the nephrologist. Am J Kidney Dis 34(5):955–959. doi:10.1016/S0272-6386(99)70058-2

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Printza N, Bosdou J, Pantzaki A, Badouraki M, Kollios K, Ghogha C, Papachristou F (2011) Percutaneous ultrasound-guided renal biopsy in children: a single centre experience. Hippokratia 15(3):258–261

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Franke M, Kramarczyk A, Taylan C, Maintz D, Hoppe B, Koerber F (2014) Ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy in 295 children and adolescents: role of ultrasound and analysis of complications. PLoS ONE 9(12):e114737. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114737

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Lee SM, King J, Spargo BH (1991) Efficacy of percutaneous renal biopsy in obese patients under computerized tomographic guidance. Clin Nephrol 35(3):123–129

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Sateriale M, Cronan JJ, Savadler LD (1991) A 5-year experience with 307 CT-guided renal biopsies: results and complications. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2(3):401–407

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Mal F, Meyrier A, Callard P, Altman JJ, Kleinknecht D, Beaugrand M, Ferrier JP (1990) Transjugular renal biopsy. Lancet 335(8704):1512–1513

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mal F, Meyrier A, Callard P, Kleinknecht D, Altmann JJ, Beaugrand M (1992) The diagnostic yield of transjugular renal biopsy. Experience in 200 cases. Kidney Int 41(2):445–449

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Squadrito JF Jr, Coletta AV (1991) Laparoscopic renal exploration and biopsy. J Laparoendosc Surg 1(4):235–239

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Leal JJ (1993) A new technique for renal biopsy: the transurethral approach. J Urol 149(5):1061–1063

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Marwah DS, Korbet SM (1996) Timing of complications in percutaneous renal biopsy: what is the optimal period of observation? Am J Kidney Dis 28(1):47–52

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Whittier WL, Korbet SM (2004) Timing of complications in percutaneous renal biopsy. J Am Soc Nephrol: JASN 15(1):142–147

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Redfield RR, McCune KR, Rao A, Sadowski E, Hanson M, Kolterman AJ, Robbins J, Guite K, Mohamed M, Parajuli S, Mandelbrot DA, Astor BC, Djamali A (2016) Nature, timing, and severity of complications from ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal transplant biopsy. Transpl Int 29(2):167–172. doi:10.1111/tri.12660

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Preuss S, Kuechle C, Wagenpfeil S, Schmaderer C, Renders L, Heemann U, Stock K (2017) Retrospective analysis of ultrasound-detected bleeding complications after ultrasound-guided transcutaneous kidney biopsies. Ultrasound Med Biol 43(1):153–162. doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2016.09.012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Pi XL, Tang Z, Fu LQ, Guo MH, Shi MH, Chen L, Wan ZY (2013) A new method of kidney biopsy using low dose CT-guidance with coaxial trocar and bard biopsy gun. Biol Proced Online 15(1):1. doi:10.1186/1480-9222-15-1

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Liu B, Odell M, Flores M, Limback J, Kendall M, Pepe J, Burt JR, Contreras F, Lewis AR, Ward TJ (2016) CT-guided native medical renal biopsy: cortical tangential versus non-tangential approaches–a comparison of efficacy and safety. Radiology. doi:10.1148/radiol.2016160912

    Google Scholar 

  29. Shamshirgar F, Bagheri SM (2017) Percutaneous ultrasound-guided renal biopsy: a comparison of axial vs. sagittal probe location. Rom J Intern Med. doi:10.1515/rjim-2017-0011

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Stec AA, Stratton KL, Kaufman MR, Chang SS, Milam DF, Herrell SD, Dmochowski RR, Smith JA Jr, Clark PE, Cookson MS (2010) Open renal biopsy: comorbidities and complications in a contemporary series. BJU Int 106(1):102–106. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2009.09015.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Keizur JJ, Tashima M, Das S (1993) Retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal biopsy. Surg Laparosc Endosc 3(1):60–62

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Gaur DD, Agarwal DK, Khochikar MV, Purohit KC (1994) Laparoscopic renal biopsy via retroperitoneal approach. J Urol 151(4):925–926

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Yap RL, Chan DY, Fradin J, Jarrett TW (2000) Intraoperative ultrasound guided retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal biopsy in the morbidly obese patient. J Urol 163(4):1197–1198

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Mukhtar Z, Steinbrecher H, Gilbert RD, Deshpande PV (2005) Laparoscopic renal biopsy in obese children. Pediatr Nephrol 20(4):495–498. doi:10.1007/s00467-004-1768-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Bayazit Y, Aridogan IA, Ozdemir S, Karayaylali I, Doran S (2002) Laparoscopic renal biopsy in bilateral pelvic kidney with chronic glomerulonephritis. Surg Endosc 16(7):1108. doi:10.1007/s00464-001-4243-5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Gimenez LF, Micali S, Chen RN, Moore RG, Kavoussi LR, Scheel PJ Jr (1998) Laparoscopic renal biopsy. Kidney Int 54(2):525–529. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1755.1998.00006.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Shetye KR, Kavoussi LR, Ramakumar S, Fugita OE, Jarrett TW (2003) Laparoscopic renal biopsy: a 9-year experience. BJU Int 91(9):817–820

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Ichibagase Y, Takahara K, Kurata S, Kakinoki H, Udo K, Nanri M, Tobu S, Tokuda Y, Noguchi M, Uozumi J (2015) Procedure and feasibility of laparoscopic renal biopsy. Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi 106(4):243–248

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Abbott KC, Musio FM, Chung EM, Lomis NN, Lane JD, Yuan CM (2002) Transjugular renal biopsy in high-risk patients: an American case series. BMC Nephrol 3:5

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Cluzel P, Martinez F, Bellin MF, Michalik Y, Beaufils H, Jouanneau C, Lucidarme O, Deray G, Grenier PA (2000) Transjugular versus percutaneous renal biopsy for the diagnosis of parenchymal disease: comparison of sampling effectiveness and complications. Radiology 215(3):689–693. doi:10.1148/radiology.215.3.r00ma07689

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Thompson BC, Kingdon E, Johnston M, Tibballs J, Watkinson A, Jarmulowicz M, Burns A, Sweny P, Wheeler DC (2004) Transjugular kidney biopsy. Am J Kidney Dis 43(4):651–662

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Misra S, Gyamlani G, Swaminathan S, Buehrig CK, Bjarnason H, McKusick MA, Andrews JC, Johnson CM, Fervenza FC, Leung N (2008) Safety and diagnostic yield of transjugular renal biopsy. J Vasc Interv Radiol 19(4):546–551. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2007.12.447

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Sam R, Leehey DJ, Picken MM, Borge MA, Yetter EM, Ing TS, Van Thiel DH (2001) Transjugular renal biopsy in patients with liver disease. Am J Kidney Dis 37(6):1144–1151

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Abbott KC, Yuan CM, Batty DS, Lane JD, Stiles KP (2001) Transjugular biopsy in patients with combined renal and liver disease: making every organ count. Am J Kidney Dis 37(6):1304–1307. doi:10.1053/ajkd.2001.25167

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Ahmad A, Hasan F, Abdeen S, Sheikh M, Kodaj J, Nampoory MR, Johny KV, Asker H, Siddique I, Thalib L, Al-Nakib B (2004) Transjugular liver biopsy in patients with end-stage renal disease. J Vasc Interv Radiol 15(3):257–260

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Schmid A, Jacobi J, Kuefner MA, Lell M, Wuest W, Mayer-Kadner I, Benz K, Schmid M, Amann K, Uder M (2013) Transvenous renal transplant biopsy via a transfemoral approach. Am J Transpl 13(5):1262–1271. doi:10.1111/ajt.12199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Kilcoyne A, Gervais DA (2016) Kidney, ureter, and bladder biopsy. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol 19(3):237–244. doi:10.1053/j.tvir.2016.06.009

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Eastwood JD, Dolmatch BL (1996) Percutaneous ureteral biopsy with the Simpson atherectomy catheter. J Vasc Interv Radiol 7(2):253–254

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Capital Special Research Projects of Health Development (2014-4-4063), China–Japan Friendship Hospital Youth Science and Technology Excellence Project (2015-QNYC-B-12) and Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (No.D171100002817003; No.D171100002817004).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wenge Li.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

We have had no involvements that might raise the question of bias in the work reported or in the conclusions, implications, or opinions stated. The results presented in this paper have not been published previously in whole or part.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhuo, L., Wang, H., Chen, D. et al. Alternative renal biopsies: past and present. Int Urol Nephrol 50, 475–479 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-017-1668-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-017-1668-x

Keywords

Navigation