Renal tumor biopsy in patients with cT1b-T4-M0 disease susceptible to radical nephrectomy: analysis of safety, accuracy and clinical impact on definitive management

Purpose Renal tumor biopsy was provided in patients candidate to radical nephrectomy for a renal mass >= 4 cm, to evaluate treatment deviation. Methods Between 2008 and 2017, 102 patients with a solid renal mass >= 4 cm with no distant metastases underwent preliminary renal tumor biopsy. We investigated the proportion of patients who proceeded with radical nephrectomy, variables predicting non-renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and concordance between biopsy findings and definitive pathology. Results Median tumor size was 70 mm (IQR 55-110). Clinical stage was cT1b in 41, cT2 in 33, cT3 in 25 and cT4 in three patients. A median of three (IQR 2-3) renal tumor biopsies were taken with 16/18 Gauge needles in 97% of cases. Clavien grade I complications occurred in five cases. Malignant tumors were documented in 84 patients: 78 RCCs and six non-RCCs. Fifteen biopsies documented oncocytoma and three were non-diagnostic. Grade was reported in 50 RCCs: 42 (84%) were low and eight (16%) high grade. Eighty-three patients proceeded with radical nephrectomy; six non-RCC malignant tumors underwent combined and/or intensified treatment; 13 of 15 patients with oncocytoma did not undergo radical nephrectomy (eight underwent observation). Definitive pathology confirmed diagnosis in all cases. Grade concordance was 84%, considering two tiers (high vs low grade). No preoperative clinical variable predicted definitive pathology. Conclusions Renal tumor biopsy is a safe procedure that leads to radical nephrectomy in most tumors >= 4 cm. Nonetheless, 20% of patients exhibited non-RCC histology. Renal tumor biopsy should be considered in this setting.