Alternative renal biopsies: past and present.

Renal biopsy techniques have been used commonly worldwide for more than 70 years. They play an important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of various renal diseases. Percutaneous renal biopsy (PRB) is currently the most important and widely used renal biopsy method. Although >90% of renal biopsies are PRBs, in certain settings, alternative renal biopsy techniques must be used, such as open, laparoscopic, transjugular, and transurethral renal biopsies. This review describes the history, advantages, and disadvantages of the various renal biopsy methods and discusses their current and future uses.