Rationale for percutaneous biopsy and histologic characterisation of renal tumours.

The use of percutaneous biopsy of renal tumours has been traditionally reserved for selected cases because of uncertainties regarding its safety, accuracy, and clinical utility. With the adoption of modern biopsy techniques and increasing expertise in interpreting biopsy specimens, renal tumour biopsy today has limited morbidity and allows histologic diagnosis in the majority of cases in centres with expertise.