Office-Based Renal Tumor Biopsy: a Paradigm Change in the Management of a Small Renal Mass?

Abstract

Purpose of review: The goal of this paper is to evaluate the use of an office-based renal mass biopsy (RMB), whose feasibility could represent a paradigm shift in clinical practice.

Recent findings: Despite the earlier diagnosis of patients with renal masses, the lack of evidence showing a reduction in cancer-specific mortality warrants an examination in treatment practices. RMB is underutilized when compared to biopsy practice for all other neoplasms in every other solid organ (except testis), and the majority of RMB performed are outsourced to interventional radiologists. Performing an ultrasound-guided, office-based RMB is safe, reproducible, and has a meaningful impact on management decisions. The use of percutaneous RMB in clinical practice is growing, and the use of RMB has meaningful impact on management decisions for renal masses. Incorporating ultrasound-guided biopsy of a renal mass into clinical practice is feasible, and in contemporary practice, the urologist has the skill set to perform the procedure reliably, with low morbidity, and with minimal patient discomfort.

Keywords: Renal cell carcinoma; Renal mass biopsy; Ultrasound.