Practical Standardization in Renal Biopsy Reporting

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To standardize renal biopsy reporting and diagnosis, The Renal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists (RPSKSP) has developed a renal pathology reporting format for the native and allograft kidney. METHODS: A consensus checklist of a provisional renal biopsy format was sent to all members of the RPSKSP. Feed back opinions regarding the practical application of the checklist to the diagnostic work were received. RESULTS: Kidney biopsies require three essential examinations by light microscopy, immunofluorescence (IF), and electron microscopy (EM). A final report of a renal biopsy should include information on specimen adequacy and a description of the morphologic change using a systematic semiquantitative method for each of the compartments, with optional separate IF and EM reports. CONCLUSIONS: A standard renal biopsy report format is important in establishing clinicopathologic correlations, making reliable prognostic considerations, comparing the findings in sequential biopsies and evaluating the effects of therapy.