Evaluation of the Adequacy of Needle-Biopsy Specimens of the Kidney

Abstract
Percutaneous needle biopsy of various organs and tissues has become a useful and important diagnostic procedure. Since the report by Iversen and Roholm,1in 1939, needle biopsy of the liver has been accepted as a reliable technique for demonstrating structural changes which occur in diseases of this organ. In 1951, Iversen and Brun described a procedure for needle biopsy of the kidney.2This was the first of many reports3which have contributed valuable information about diseases of this organ. There are, however, only a few studies which deal with the representative nature of the kidney-biopsy specimen.4-6The study being reported was done to explore the correlations which exist between diagnoses from needle biopsies of the kidney and those from routine autopsy specimens. Similar investigations were done when the value of needle biopsy of the liver was being established.7-10 Material and Methods This study was begun in June, 1954. At