Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in kidney biopsy inadequacy rate. Evaluation of biopsy adequacy by pathology is often not available. This study utilizes a smartphone camera to take a photograph of the biopsy at the bedside, which is then enlarged to allow for distinction between cortex and medulla. The physician performing the procedure, most often a radiologist, can then decide if additional samples are needed. In this study, there was a high agreement rate in the determination of adequacy between pathology (using a dissecting microscope) and radiology (using a smartphone). This method of determining specimen adequacy has the potential to decrease the biopsy inadequacy rate while simultaneously lowering cost and improving patient outcome.

Read the paper: https://journals.lww.com/jasn/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2021&issue=12000&article=00012&type=Fulltext