NEW ORLEANS, LA USA (UroToday.com) - Recognizing the prevalence of non-diagnostic renal biopsies for large heterogeneous tumors, the authors tested the diagnostic ability of a novel multi-quadrant (quadBx) biopsy technique against the standard single location biopsy technique.
The quadBX technique involved taking core biopsies from 4 separate enhancing areas within a tumor, under the guidance of CT or US. Biopsy cores were then reviewed by an expert genitourinary pathologist who was blinded to the type of biopsy technique. Pathologic findings were then compared between the standard single location technique and quadBx technique.
Forty-six biopsies were performed using the standard biopsy technique, and 76 biopsies were performed using the quadBx technique. No significant differences were noted for the patient population demographics or clinical characteristics. The authors found no instances of non-diagnostic biopsy when using the quadBx technique but encountered 5 biopsy samples taken using the standard single location biopsy technique, which were determined to be non-diagnostic. In addition, renal masses with sarcomatoid features were correctly identified in 65.2% (15/23) of biopsy specimens taken by the standard single location technique and in 86.7% (13/15) of biopsy specimens taken by the quadBx technique.
The authors concluded that the quadBX decreases the non-diagnostic rate of biopsies for patients with large heterogeneous renal masses, and may provide increased sensitivity for the detection of tumors with poor prognostic outcomes for the patient.
Presented by Jennifer E. Heckman at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting - May 15 - 19, 2015 - New Orleans, LA USA
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI USA
Reported by Cyrus Khoyilar (University of California-Irvine), medical writer for UroToday.com