Nuclear: Genitourinary Flashcards
What are the main radio tracers used in renal scans?
- Tc-99m DTPA
- Tc-99m MAG3
- Tc-99m DMSA
- Tc-99m GH (glucoheptonate)
Which is the best radiotracer for estimating GFR?
Tc-99m DTPA
Note: Almost all of this radiotracer is filtered (not secreted) by the kidneys; however, since ~5% is not you are still slightly underestimating GFR.
What is the critical organ for Tc-99m DTPA?
Bladder
What is the critical organ for Tc-99m MAG3?
Bladder
What is the critical organ for Tc-99m GH (glucoheptonate)?
Bladder
What is the best radiotracer to estimate effective renal plasma flow?
Tc-99m MAG3
Note: Almost all of this radiotracer is secreted.
Which radiotracer is better for pts with poor renal function: DTPA or MAG3?
MAG3 is concentrated better by kidneys with poor renal function
Nuclear renal scans are usually obtained posteriorly. When would you want to obtain anterior images?
- Transplanted kidney
- Horseshoe kidney
What are the indications for a dynamic (functional) nuclear renal study?
- Suspected obstruction
- Evaluate differential function
- Suspected renal artery stenosis
- Suspected complication from renal transplant
- Suspected urine leak
What are the 3 phases of a dynamic nuclear renal study?
- Blood flow phase
- Cortical phase
- Clearance phase
Differential for symmetrically decreased renal flow on dynamic nuclear renal study
Technical error (e.g. poor bolus)
Note: Most pathologies will cause asymmetric flow problems.
Differential for asymmetrically decreased renal flow on dynamic nuclear renal study
- Renal artery thrombosis
- Renal vein thrombosis
- Chronic high grade obstruction
- Acute pyelonephritis
- Acute rejection (transplant)
Note: ATN, interstitial nephritis, and cyclosporin toxicity will all have normal perfusion/flow.
Which phase of a dynamic nuclear renal study is used to calculate differential renal function?
The cortical (parenchymal) phase, after flow and before tracer reaches the collecting system
Where should you place the background area of interest for a dynamic nuclear renal study?
A background area that is not overlying the liver or spleen
How can you quantify tracer retention in the renal cortex?
20/3 ratio:
(peak count at 20 min)/(peak count at 3 min)
Note: The normal value should be < 0.8.
How do you decide whether to give furosemide during a dynamic nuclear renal study looking for obstruction?
If there is still tracer activity in the kidneys/collecting system at 30 minutes, then give the furosemide
Note: If there is true obstruction, the retained tracer won’t clear. If there is a dilated but non obstructed collecting system, then at least 50% of the remaining tracer should clear within 10-20 min of giving furosemide.