Renal scintigraphy
What is it?
The examination is used to evaluate the renal characteristics (location, size, presence of any pathologies) and involves the intravenous administration of a radiopharmaceutical (99mTc DMSA), which binds to the cells of the kidneys allowing their visualization, except in case of disease.
When is this exam indicated?
It is particularly recommended in case of:
- congenital diseases: identification of the type of abnormality, its location as in the suspicion of agenesis, ectopia, "horseshoe" kidneys;
- cystic kidney disease: for the evaluation of residual functional mass, as in the case of infantile polycystic kidney and its monitoring;
- pyelonephritis: evaluation of scarring with loss of functional renal mass and monitoring of its progression;
- hydronephrosis: evaluation of residual functional renal mass in cases of kidneys functionally excluded by other instrumental investigations;
- trauma: evaluation and progress of post-traumatic outcomes.
How is it performed?
There is no preparation for the examination.
It involves the intravenous injection of a radiopharmaceutical (99TC-DMSA), 4 hours of waiting time before the acquisition of images, Gamma camera, equipped with a bed on which the patient must lie still. Images of the kidney are acquired in different projections for a duration of about 15 minutes. In particular cases, the examination can be continued up to 6 hours and can always be completed with SPECT tomographic acquisitions lasting 30 minutes. In pediatrics, it is possible to repeat the acquisition of some images, if a child has moved too much, but this does not require further radiation for a child.
The stay in the ward is variable from 4 to 6 hours.
Contraindications
No contraindications; drug interference: ACE inhibitors and mannitol may reduce cortical absorption of the radiocompound.
Where do we treat it?
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