Aspiration Biopsy of the Kidney

There are many instances in diagnostic medicine and also in clinical research when correlation of renal function and a clinical syndrome with the exact renal histopathology would be valuable indeed. Needle biopsy of the liver, the spleen, the prostate, and the lung have been performed because of a similar need in other fields. Needle biopsy of the kidney was first performed by Iversen and Brun in 1951. Since then, several reports of its use have appeared in the literature. It is the purpose of this paper to report our experiences with this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS Materials used were: the Turkel liver biopsy needle, consisting of an outer needle and stylet, 11 gauge, 100 mm. long, with an adjustable guard control, and an inner trephine needle and stylet, 13 gauge, 150 mm. in length; 20 cc. syringe for the aspiration biopsy; 10 cc. syringe for procaine infiltration; one no.