Our Experience with Quantitative SPECT of the Kidneys in Children

Overview

Tomographic imaging - SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) uses gamma radiation emittedby a radiopharmaceutical substance for scanning of the kidney, most frequently 99m Tc-DMSA, is used. SPECTmakes it possible to obtain qualitative and quantitative information on pathological processes in tissues withoutthe interfering effect of the activity of the radiopharmaceutical in tissues neighbouring with the selected area ofinterest. The group of patients was formed by 10 children (7 girls and 3 boys, age 3 - 17 years, mean 9 years) withthe following diagnoses: vesicoureteral reflux in six children, infections of the urinary pathways in neonatal age1x, pelvis duplex et ureter fissus + stenosis urethrae 1x, hydronephrosis 1x, pyelonep hritis chronica 1x. All childrenhad normal biochemical and haematological values. The examination was made on a PRISM apparatus of PickerCo. 2 - 3 hours after administration of 99m Tc-DMSA. The administered activity was according to body weight 185- 400 MBq. The functional renal volume was evaluated in cm 3 , the percentage of administered activity accumulatedin cm 3 of functional parenchyma (%ID/cm 3 ) and the renal uptake in %. The imaging proper of the parenchymawas visualized in coronary, sagittal and transverse sections, moreover in the three-dimensional (3D) and three-di-mensional double threshold imaging. The advantage of SPECT in kidneys is the possibility of quantification andmore instructive imaging of the parenchymatous lesion than can be obtained by static renal scintigraphy.

Key words:
quantitative SPECT of kidneys