Nuclear Imaging in Pediatric Kidney Diseases

ABSTRACT

Renal scintigraphy is a useful tool in diagnosis and management of various nephro-urological conditions. Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinicacid renal scintigraphy (Tc-99m-DMSA), Tc-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (Tc-99m-MAG3) or Tc-99m diethylenetriaminepentaaceticacid (Tc-99m-DTPA) dynamic renal scintigraphy, and Radionuclide micturating cystography are the common scans used in children withkidney diseases. These studies are minimally invasive, easily available, and offer both anatomic details and functional informationrequired for thorough evaluation. At the same time, it is essential to have appropriate knowledge to interpret these studies and be awareof their limitations and pitfalls. The advent of Positron emission tomography-computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET-CT/MRI) has broadened the scope of nuclear medicine. This article focuses on the technique, interpretation, indication and recentpractice guidelines of renal scintigraphy in children with kidney diseases.