Objective: To determine the detection rate of renal scarring in pediatric patients using 99mTc-DMSA Scintigraphy.
Methodology: Over the period of November 2021 to February 2022, 95 patients who visited the Nuclear Medicine department of Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Oncology (INMOL) for DMSA scintigraphy were included in the cross-sectional study. Using 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy, the kidneys were scanned. The presence or absence of a renal planar scan was identified as a visualization of cold defect or uniform uptake in the cortex respectively. The information was analyzed using chi-square test.
Results: Out of 95 patients, 60% were females. Mean age of the patients was 5.79±4.20years. We found that 47 (49.47%) patients were positive and 48 (50.53%) were negative for possible renal scarring. Of the positive cases, 11 (21.3%) had vesicoureteric reflux, and 10 (21.3%) had urinary tract infections. Homogenous uptake was present in 34 (72.3%) and overall reduced split functions in scarred positive case were 23 (48.9%).
Conclusion: This study showed that 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy detected anatomical and functional aspects of the kidney. As the DMSA scintigraphy can identify a considerably higher percentage of patients who had renal scarring, it may be ideal for the early identification of renal scarring.
Key words: Renal Scarring, DMSA scans, urinary tract infection, Vesicoureteric reflux.
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