What is a kidney biopsy?
A kidney biopsy is a procedure to remove a small piece of kidney tissue, so it can be examined under a microscope for signs of damage or disease. Your doctor will insert a needle through your skin and into your kidney. Imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound are often used to help guide the interventional radiologist’s instruments to the appropriate site.
Preparing For Your Biopsy
The Kidney Biopsy Procedure
Kidney Biopsy Recovery
Call your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Signs of infection at the procedure site, such as redness, swelling, or a fever.
- Dark, thick red urine.
- Bleeding from the procedure site.
- Worsening, severe pain near the procedure site.
- Fainting or feeling lightheaded.
Risks of a Kidney Biopsy
- Bleeding at the procedure site
- Infection at the procedure site
- Bleeding into the urine can occur with passage of blood stained urine
- Very rarely, the kidney may be damaged
- Injury to an adjacent nerve, blood vessel, or muscle
Schedule A Consultation
If any further questions or complications arise and you do not know what to do, please call the radiology department at Summit Healthcare at 928-537-4375, ext. 6549. For questions after hours please ask for ext. 6332.
Getting your biopsy results may take a few days. When the results are ready, your doctor will discuss them with you.