Abstract: FR-PO0677
Immediate Kidney Biopsy Specimen Adequacy Verification with a Portable Digital Microscope
Session Information
- Glomerular Diseases: Clinical, Outcomes, and Therapeutics Research - ANCA/FSGS
October 23, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Glomerular Diseases
- 1402 Glomerular Diseases: Clinical, Outcomes, and Therapeutics
Authors
- Aslam, Sadia, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Asad, Maira, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Velez, Juan Carlos Q., The University of Queensland Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
Group or Team Name
- Ochsner Nephrology
Background
Retrieval of optimal tissue specimens during a percutaneous kidney biopsy (PKB) is critical for establishing diagnoses. Lack of widespread availability of a pathologist or trained technician during the procedure or of a regular light microscope in the procedural room are barriers that often result in submission of inadequate specimens, often aglomerular, impairing the ability to obtain an adequate diagnosis. We examined the utility of a portable pocket digital microscope (pDigMICRO) for immediate intraprocedural verification of kidney tissue biopsy specimen adequacy.
Methods
We reviewed cases at Ochsner Medical Center in which a PKB was performed by a nephrologist and a pocket-size battery-operated pDigMICRO was used for verification of specimen adequacy immediately upon each tissue core retrieval. Images obtained at 50X and 1000X magnification were wirelessly captured via Wi-Fi in a smartphone and transferred to a secure server for storage. Demographics, clinical data, and pathology reports were collected. Based on total number of retrieved glomeruli that were examined under light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy, optimal PKB was defined as ≥ 10.
Results
A total of 88 patients were included, median age 47 (19-87), 44% women, 28% black. Median serum creatinine at the time of PKB was 1.7 (0.6-10.8) mg/dL. All PKBs were performed with a 16 g needle. An average of 2.7 cores were obtained after an average of 3.8 needle passes. In all cases (100%), retrieval of kidney cortex was confirmed using pDigMICRO by either its characteristic pink-tan color and/or visualization of glomeruli within cylindrical tissue cores. Zero (0%) specimens were aglomerular. A pathological diagnosis was achieved in all cases (100%). Median number of biopsy glomeruli was 23 (6-62), with 91% of cases meeting the optimal PFB criterion (≥10 glomeruli per PKB). Six (7%) patients required blood transfusion but no invasive interventions were required.
Conclusion
pDigMICRO allowed for verification of tissue adequacy in a similar manner to that previously reported utilizing standard methods of adequacy verification. This approach may be a viable tool to improve performance of PKB in centers without access to a pathologist, trained technician, or a regular light microscope, such as in setting performed by interventional radiologists or in non-academic centers.