aprnjam
Joined: 29 Apr 2003
Posts: 85
PostPosted: 14 Jun 2003 21:21 Post subject: What is a Renal Scan
Your nephrologist may order a renal scan to determine the amount of kidney function you have and your Glomerlar Filtration Rate (GFR) is there is a problem with the normal 24 hour urine collection.<
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>This test is done in Nuclear Medicine, you will be taken to the Nuclear Medicine Department located within the X-Ray Department after you register at the Outpatient Services Desk.<
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>You will be taken to the Nuclear Medicine Department, and asked to change your clothes and be given the traditional "hospital" attire. An intravenous line will be started in either your left or right hand. You will be asked to lie on an x-ray table, and they will make you as comfortable as possible.<
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>Right before the procedure starts, if you are not taking Lassix (furosemide), you will be given an intravenous injection of this medication (a diuretic). You will also be given an injection of Technetium 99 m DTPA.<
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>You will lie on the x-ray table, and pictures of your kidneys will be taken, in slice-like sections, and the radiologist will follow the Technetium 99 m DTPA through your kidneys. From this data, the radiologist will be able to deter the percentage of function of both of your kidneys, individually. Also, the radiologist will be able to determine your GFR individually for each kidney, then be able to give a combined GFR for both kidneys. For example, the left kidney could have 58% function and the right 42% function, for an average of 50% functioning of both kidneys. If the GFR is at 9 cc/minute for the left and 7 cc/minute for the right, the combined total GFR would be 16 cc/minute. The actual size of the kidneys can also be determined from this test. In some cases, this test is more reliable in determining GFR than the 24 hour urine.
