Dynamic Renal Scan in the Non-Visualizing Kidney

Abstract
Patients [31] with 35 non-visualizing kidneys on excretory urography were studied with 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid [bTPA] scintiscanning. In 11 cases good renal blood flow and concentration were demonstrated on nuclide scanning. All patients had significant parenchyma and recoverable renal function after appropriate surgical management. In 20 cases there was little or no blood flow on the scan. These patients either had a congenitally absent kidney or severely destroyed parenchyma. The 99mTc DTPA dynamic renal scan is a sensitive method for predicting renal salvageability of a kidney that fails to visualize on excretory urography.