Imaging-guided percutaneous renal biopsy: rationale and approach.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to discuss the history of, indications and rationale for, and approach to imaging-guided percutaneous renal biopsies.

CONCLUSION

With the progressive increase in the number of incidentally discovered renal masses, increased use of percutaneous ablation as a treatment alternative for the management of renal cell carcinoma and improvements in immunohistochemistry techniques, imaging-guided renal biopsy will continue to serve as a useful tool for the evaluation and management of renal diseases.