Benefits of a combined approach to sampling of renal neoplasms as demonstrated in a series of 351 cases.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is increasingly used for curative treatment of primary cancers of the kidney. We reviewed our experience of percutaneous sampling performed under computed tomographic guidance with fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and core biopsy (CB), and we report on the complementary roles of these 2 techniques in a series of 351 consecutive patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for renal neoplasms. Both FNAB and CB were obtained in 290 cases, of which 156 patients (54%) were positive for neoplasm in both specimens, and 27 (9%) were negative for tumor in both specimens.