Renal Mass Biopsy

Kidney cancer accounts for 2% of cancer related deaths. Historically, a patient with a solid renal mass would undergo surgery without biopsy given the previously low diagnostic yield of biopsy and the fear of tumor seeding. This led to a high rate of resection for benign masses. With the rising incidence of renal masses discovered on imaging, improvements in biopsy technique and advancements in pathologic evaluation of biopsy samples of renal masses, renal mass biopsy now plays an important role in selected patients with renal masses. Coaxial core needle biopsy is the preferred technique with a low rate of complications and a high diagnostic yield. This article will discuss indications, methods, utility, limitations and complications of renal mass biopsy.