[A new automated renal biopsy technique under ultrasound guidance]

We evaluated a new automated biopsy device for percutaneous renal biopsies under ultrasound guidance, which was recently introduced in Japan for prostate biopsies. This device (Biopty-Gun: Bard Biopty Instrument Uppsala, Sweden) employs a Tru-Cut type smaller needle (18 gauge). We were able to obtain one or two renal tissues in all 57 cases with great ease and in little time. The length of specimen was sufficient (5-17 mm), but the width was thinner than the samples with the Vim-Silverman or Tru-Cut needles. We could achieve a definitive pathological diagnosis in 54 of 57 cases (94.7%), but now, we try to obtain two pieces of tissue for taking more adequate tissue. Only three patients had perirenal hematomas noted by computerized tomography or ultrasonography. We believe that this new automated technique offers a safer and more effective means of obtaining renal tissue.