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Kidney anatomy
Kidney anatomy
Kidney - blood and urine flow
Kidney - blood and urine flow
Ureteral biopsy
Ureteral biopsy

Ureteral retrograde brush biopsy cytology
Definition:

a diagnostic procedure in which renal (kidney) or ureter tissue is removed for examination.
Alternative Names:
Biopsy - brush - urinary tract; Retrograde ureteral brush biopsy cytology

How the test is performed:

Regional (spinal), or general anesthesia may be used. You are positioned and a cystoscope (a fiberoptic scope) is placed through your urethra into the bladder. A guide wire is inserted through the cystoscope and into your ureter.

The cystoscope is then removed, leaving the guidewire in place. A ureteroscope (small telescope to visualize the inside of the ureter and kidney) is passed over or beside the guide wire.

Once the suspect area is identified, a nylon or steel brush or biopsy forceps is placed through the ureteroscope and the lesion is rubbed with the brush or biopsied with the biopsy forceps. When the brush or biopsy forceps is removed, the tissue from the lesion is removed from the instrument.
How to prepare for the test:
You must sign a consent form. Fasting for about 6 hours is recommended. You will be given a mild sedative before the test.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How the test will feel:

Your bladder may feel full, and there may be some cramping or discomfort during the test. The test will take about 30 to 60 minutes.

Afterward, there may be some mild cramping or discomfort. Some burning may occur the first few times you empty your bladder.
Why the test is performed:

This test is used to obtain a specimen of kidney (renal pelvis or calyx) or ureter tissue when X-ray (or other test) shows a lesion in this area or when there are suspicious cells in the urine.
Normal Values:
The tissue appears normal.
What abnormal results mean:
  • carcinoma cells -- this test can differentiate malignant (cancerous) and benign lesions
What the risks are:
Special considerations:

This test should not be performed in people with acuteurinary tract infection or obstruction at or below the biopsy site.

After the test, watch for abdominal pain, flank pain, or blood in the urine (a small amount of pink color is normal the 1st time or 2 that you urinate, but grossly bloody urine or bleeding that lasts longer than 3 times urinating is significant). Report these or any other new symptoms to the health care provider.
Review Date: 6/5/2001
Reviewed By: Debra Fromer, M.D., Department of Urology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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