Renal biopsy with 16G needle: a safety study

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Radiology
• Urology

Background:

• Percutaneous renal biopsy is a key diagnostic procedure for renal masses.
• Concerns exist regarding potential complications and morbidity associated with the technique.
• Standardization and safety assessment of biopsy methods are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and outcomes of orthotopic kidney biopsies performed with a 16G needle.
• To determine the complication rates and identify potential risk factors.
• To assess the diagnostic performance of the procedure.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 180 ultrasound-guided renal biopsies using a 16G automated biopsy gun.
• Data collected included patient demographics, procedure details, early complications, and management.
• Statistical analysis was performed to study complication rates and risk factors.

Main Results:

• The overall complication rate was 5.6%, with only 1.67% requiring intervention.
• No deaths or surgical interventions were necessary.
• Insufficient material for diagnosis occurred in 2.8% of biopsies. No significant relationship was found between hypertension, anticoagulation, or antiaggregation and complications.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous ultrasound-guided renal biopsy with a 16G needle is a safe procedure.
• The technique demonstrates high diagnostic performance for evaluating renal masses.
• The study supports the routine use of this method in clinical practice.