NICE has published new guidance on kidney cancer which says that more people should have a biopsy to confirm their diagnosis sooner. The new draft guidelines could see the number of biopsies increase to around 1,200 procedures a year.
The NICE guideline:
- Recommends offering a biopsy to help confirm the diagnosis and inform treatment options for people with suspected renal cell carcinoma (RCC), where the cancer has not spread, and if they have a lesion on their kidney which is 4cm or smaller from which a tissue sample can be taken.
- States that a biopsy can also be considered for people with larger lesions where scans suggest it is benign or before they have non-surgical treatments that will destroy the lesion, or if the person requests one.
- Places strong emphasis on patient information and support by recommending that patients have access to clinical nurse specialists with kidney cancer expertise. These specialists are able to create plans which include the details of their treatment, follow-up schedules, and clear information for further support.
- Includes recommendations for the diagnosis and management of heritable genetic conditions that significantly increase the risk of developing kidney cancer, such as Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL).
NICE has also launched a consultation on the guidelines which can be found here, which closes on 28 October 2025.
Please email your submission to ben.kemp@bivda.org.uk if you wish to have your views incorporated into our industry-wide response.
