Efficacy and Complications of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Renal Biopsy Using Automatic Biopsy Gun in Pediatric Diffuse Renal Disease: Analysis of 97 Cases

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and complications of ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy using automatic biopsy gun in patients with pediatric diffuse renal disease. MATERIALS and METHODS: Using an 18G automatic biopsy gun, biopsies were performed on 97 pediatric patients with clinically suspicious diffuse renal disease. The acquired tissue specimens were analyzed by photomicroscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy to support the diagnosis. In the 97 biopsies, the success of the histologic diagnosis, number of glomeruli, and complication rates were retrospectively evaluated by analyzing the variable exams and clinical records. RESULTS: Adequate tissue for histologic diagnosis was obtained in 91 of 97 biopsies (94%) and the mean number of glomeruli was 9.6. Complications such as minute pain, gross hematuria, and small perirenal hematoma presented in 22 of the 97 biopsies (23%), all of which either improved within 5-72 hours or did not need specific treatment. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous renal biopsy using 18G automatic biopsy gun is an effective and safe method for the histologic diagnosis of pediatric diffuse renal disease without any major complication.