ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study is designed to evaluate the usefulness of (99m)Tc-MAG3 renal scan in the diagnosis of early surgical complication of renal transplantation comparing with that of ultrasonography. METHODS: 203 renal transplantations, from January 2000 to December 2004, were studied retrospectively. (99m)Tc-MAG3 renal scan and ultrasonography were performed routinely for evaluation of allograft kidney at postoperative day 3, 7, 14 and 21 or 28 respectively. RESULTS: Thirteen early surgical complications (6.4%) from 203 recipients were developed during the first one month after transplantation. Six cases of urological complications were noticed. And six cases of hematoma and one case of lymphocele were also developed. (99m)Tc-MAG3 renal scan showed abnormality in ten cases (76.9%) of thirteen early surgical complications. (99m)Tc-MAG3 renal scan revealed all of six urologic complications (100%), and four of six hematomas (66.7%). But one lymphocele was not detected by (99m)Tc-MAG3 renal scan. Ultrasonography showed abnormal findings in eight cases of 13 early surgical complications (61.5%): one of four urine leakage (25%), two of two urinomas (100%), four of six hematomas (66.7%), and one lymphocele (100%). CONCLUSION: (99m)Tc-MAG3 renal scan is more sensitive than ultrasonography in detection of earlysurgical complications of renal transplantation. Then (99m)Tc-MAG3 renal scan is useful test for screening and follow-up of early surgical complications after renal transplantation.