Presentation
Deteriorating renal function. Cause unknown.
Patient Data

Diagnostic ultrasound image prior to biopsy
Normal BPD and cortical thickness.
The width of the cortex is measured over the lower pole prior to biopsy, to gauge positioning of the needle tip, allowing for the 2cm throw of the biopsy needle.
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Co-axial needle for when more than one core is taken. 18G cores are typically taken.
Other biopsy devices shown.

Dynamic image as biopsy taken.
The core biopsy aims to taken the renal cortex, without significant medullary fat, and certainly avoiding the pelviocalyceal system.
Case Discussion
Ultrasound guided renal biopsy may be performed for:
1. Non-focal biopsy of native kidney - to investigate the cause of renal impairment
2. Focal biopsy for unclassified lesion on diagnostic imaging
3. Non-focal biopsy of a transplant kidney - to investigate the cause of renal impairment
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