Percutaneous renal tumour biopsy

Area of Science:

• Urologic Oncology
• Diagnostic Pathology
• Nephrology

Background:

• Percutaneous renal tumour biopsy (RTB) utilization has surged in the past 30 years.
• Advances in imaging and nephron-sparing surgery have driven increased RTB use.
• Improved biopsy techniques and smaller needles have reduced complication rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnostic utility of RTB for renal masses.
• To discuss advancements in RTB techniques and their impact on diagnostic accuracy.
• To outline the current understanding of renal cell neoplasia and diagnostic approaches.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on percutaneous renal tumour biopsy.
• Analysis of diagnostic rates and complication trends.
• Discussion of histological characterization based on the Vancouver Classification.

Main Results:

• Non-diagnostic rates for RTB range from 4% to 21% in large series.
• Re-biopsy and molecular markers improve diagnostic sensitivity.
• Tumour morphotype diagnosis is often achievable via routine histology, with immunohistochemistry aiding difficult cases.

Conclusions:

• RTB is a valuable tool for characterizing renal masses, with improving safety and accuracy.
• Understanding renal cell neoplasia complexity is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• The Vancouver Classification provides a framework for classifying renal tumours.