Hi Sarah,
If I may,I'd like to ask your opinion about something. My creatinine level is slightly elavated(1.5)and my Bun is(24)and I have had microscopic blood in my urine for quite sometime. I have gone to a Nephrologist and he is talking about a kidney biopsy. Would you have any idea what he is expecting to learn from this test and are they thinking cancer? I just want to make sure this biopsy is absolutely necessary as I have no insurance and it's an overnight stay in the hospital and the biopsy itself is at least $2,000. His receptionist told me that he doesn't come in the office till 2 http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/redface.gifo everyday b/c he's at the hospital doing these all day. Now,I'm wondering is there that many people that need biopsies or is he running them through like cattle to make money. Thanks and any advise would be appreciated. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

A renal biopsy takes small slices of kidney tissues for examination under a microscope and should not necessitate an overnight stay in hospital. Most, if not all hospitals should do this on a day surgery basis. Taking tissue for microscopic examination is the most effecient way of finding out what is going on and is the best diagnostic tool in the end, however, it does seem a little drastic in this case and I wonder if you have had other tests done?

Have you done a 24 hour urine collection at all and have you had an ultrasound scan of your kidneys or a CT or MRI? A lot of information can be found from these tests without the need for a biopsy.

A biopsy should be a little bit of a last resort when all other avenues of diagnosis fail, as this does carry certain risks of bleeding after the procedure, but you should be given drugs to prevent this in any case.

If you have not had these other tests done, then ask about these first. A lot can be found from a 24 hour urine collection, such as total protein, creatinnnine, and urea levels. If a diagnosis cannot be made from all these, then a biopsy may ultimately be the only other way to be sure, however, it should be a last resort, as it is an invasive procedure after all.

They would not be looking for any specific disease or renal cell carcinoma (ca of the kidneys), but from a biopsy, anything can be diagnosed from nephritis to all the other causes of renal problems.

Hope this helps and good luck?

Hi Sarah,
I have had an ultrasound and a ct scan of my kidneys,but no 24 hour urine collection. I will ask about that before agreeing to a byopsy. Thank you so much for the information as you have helped set my mind at ease. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif