Technique for office‐based, ultrasonography‐guided percutaneous biopsy of renal cortical neoplasms using a novel transducer for facilitated ultrasound targeting

Abstract

To help clarify which small renal cortical neoplasms (RCNs) require surgery by using office-based, ultrasonography-guided percutaneous renal biopsy. Biopsies were performed using facilitated ultrasound targeting (FUT) technology, which incorporates a needle guide and onscreen beam-steered technology to permit highly precise needle deployment. Patient and tumour characteristics, procedure time, complications and biopsy efficacy were documented. Wong-Baker pain levels were obtained before, during and 1h after the procedure. Seven patients underwent biopsy, six for RCNs and one for medical renal disease. The mean (range) patient age was 68.5 (54-79) years, and the mean (range) tumour diameter was 2.55 (2.0-2.9) cm. Mean pain levels before, during and 1h after the procedure were 0, 1.6 and 0.5, respectively. There were no intra- or post-procedural complications. Biopsy results were diagnostic in five of the six RCN cases and in the single case of medical renal disease. Our preliminary experience shows that office-based percutaneous renal biopsy using a novel transducer for FUT is safe and effective. An international multicentre study is planned to confirm these preliminary results.