Role of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of nonneoplastic renal disease in children.

To assess the role of electron microscopy in the evaluation of pediatric renal biopsies, all native kidney biopsies performed in children for nonneoplastic renal disease over a 2-year period were reviewed. Of 80 biopsies, the role of electron microscopy was classified as "essential" in 50 (63%), "supportive or confirmatory" in 18 (23%), and "noncontributory" in 9 (11%), with no glomeruli available for study in 3 (4%). The role of electron microscopy with respect to indication for biopsy and final diagnosis is discussed. This study confirms the continued importance of electron microscopy in the evaluation of pediatric renal biopsies.