Additional Value of SPECT/CT Imaging to $${}^{\rm 99m}$$Tc-DTPA Dynamic Renal Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Patients with Different Nephro-urological Conditions
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Dynamic renal scintigraphy with 99m Technetium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) is a generally used imaging technique for evaluating renal function of patients with various nephro-urological conditions. However, the application of SPECT/CT is not regularly performed as a part of the study. The aim of the study was to evaluate the added value of SPECT/CT imaging to dynamic renal scintigraphy with 99m Tc-DTPA. Thirty-eight patients – 23 females (60.5%) and 15 males (39.5%), aged 16–83 years (mean: 55.4, standard deviation: 18.76) underwent dynamic nephroscintigraphy with subsequent SPECT/CT. The CT scan was performed with a low dose protocol. A dose of 185 MBq (5 mCi) 99m Tc-DTPA was administered intravenously. Our analysis demonstrated impaired relative renal function in various degrees of left kidney in 21 patients (55.3%) and of right kidney in 17 patients (44.7%). SPECT/CT maging revealed the specific cause, responsible for the renal dysfunction in the cases. The hybrid imaging demonstrated calculosis in 11 patients, urological cancer in 6 patients, postoperative strictures of ureter in five patients, external compression of ureter from ovarian cyst in one patient and compression of ureter due to nephroptosis in one patient as a possible obstructive cause. In 14 patients congenital renal anomalies were the identified causes of impaired renal function – hypoplastic kidney in five patients, duplex kidney in three patients, multiple cortical cysts in three patients, aberrant vessel obstructing the pyelo-ureteral segment in two patients and horseshoe kidney in one patient. The combination of conventional 99m Tc-DTPA dynamic renal scintigraphy with subsequent SPECT/CT could provide not only functional but also anatomical information of the urinary tract, especially in the valuation of obstructive uropathies and congenital renal abnormalities that can change the clinical management.
Institutions: University Hospital St. Ivan Rilski, Military Medical Academy
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411762001