Renal dynamic functional scintigraphy in children with congenital urinary tract anomalies

Abstract

Objective To clarify the characteristics of renal scintigraphy in children with various congenital urinary tract anomalies and to evaluate their clinical significance. Methods 51 children with congenital urinary tract anomalies were studied by 99Tcm－DTPA renal dynamic functional scintigraphy (RDFS). Among them, 8 cases were studied by diuretic renography in addition. Results RDFS provided: ①Both the morphological information of anomalies and the split renal function. ②Localization of the site of urinary tract obstruction. In case of pelviureteric junction obstruction, the hydronephrosis was usually severe but with normal size ureter, whereas in ureterovesical junction obstruction the hydronephrosis was less severe but with dilatation of ureter. In case of lower urinary tract obstruction, the hydronephrosis and hydroureter were bilateral. Diuretic renography differentiated obstructive from non－obstructive hydronephrosis. By comparing pre－and post operative studies, it was easy to evaluate the recovery of renal function. Conclusions RDFS is a valuable modality for giving both anatomical and functional information in children with congenital urinary tract anomalies and we suggest it should be used more popularly in Pediatrics. Key words: Urogenital abnormalities; Children; Radionuclide imaging