Obtaining renal tissue for analysis with a needle inserted through the skin, usually done after the kidney has been localized by ultrasound, computed tomography, or angiography. This technique is used to establish a diagnosis of renal dysfunction, determine prognosis in patients with renal disease, evaluate the extent of renal injury, and determine appropriate therapy. The most common complication is urinary bleeding, which tends to clear gradually over several days.

Main entry:
biopsy