Are there instances when you recommend obtaining more than 2 kidney cores when performing a native kidney biopsy?

At our institution, we perform biopsies under direct ultrasound visualization with a pathologist at the bedside to immediately review gross specimens for adequate cortex. It is not uncommon for us to find that a 3rd core is required due to a paucity of glomeruli or cortical thinning, and certainly, ...

For diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic reasons, you need enough glomeruli for light microscopy, immunofluorescence and electron microscopic examination of the kidney biopsy. To ensure that, a renal pathologist should ideally be present with the nephrologist when the biopsy is done. If that is no...