Brush biopsy of pyelocalyceal lesions via a percutaneous translumbar approach

Percutaneous translumbar selective brush biopsy of pyelocalyceal and ureteric lesions is simple, permits ready access to all calyces as well as the ureter and renal pelvis, and facilitates multiple biopsies from different sites. The ability to retrieve tissue fragments from between the bristles allows histological diagnosis in addition to a Papanicolaou smear. Selective washings can be obtained for bacteriologic diagnosis; in many instances, cultures taken directly from the lesion proved to be different from samples taken from the bladder urine or renal pelvis. This method can be expanded to serve a means of establishing a temporary percutaneous nephropyelostomy.