DTPA Renal Scan

The DTPA renal scan is contraindicated in pregnant women so it's best to let your doctor know if you are or suspect you might be pregnant.

Your healthcare provider may order this test in the following conditions:

• To check the blood supply to the kidneys
• To evaluate the function and flow of urine from the kidneys
• To check for GFR, especially in the following people:
• Those who’ve had a kidney transplant
• Those who are undergoing chemotherapy
• Those who are kidney donors
• To check for blockage between the kidney and the bladder
• To evaluate the cause of reduced kidney function with symptoms of high blood pressure

Following are a few things you may be asked to do before the scan:

• The healthcare provider will ask you to drink plenty of fluids before the test.
• You must not drink too much coffee or tea as it may dehydrate you before the test and affect the results.
• If the scan is performed to evaluate high blood pressure secondary to kidney disease, the doctor may stop your high blood pressure medicines for four to seven days before the test.
• If the test is performed to check for the cause of high blood pressure, you may be asked to undergo fasting for four hours before the test.
• Inform your healthcare practitioner if you are:
  • Pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
  • Allergic to any substance

The following procedure is performed for the DTPA renal scan:

• They will ask you to lie down on an exam table with the gamma camera under you.
• A radioactive medicine is inserted into the vein of your arm with the help of a thin tube (cannula).
• The gamma camera is set over your body and the images are captured.
• Sometimes, the doctor may give a dose of medicines such as captopril or furosemide during the test.
• They will now ask you to urinate and empty your bladder.
• After you pee, the pictures are captured again.
• Once the scanning is performed, the cannula is removed and the procedure is over.

It may take an hour to complete the imaging process.

You may feel discomfort when the radioactive medicine is injected into the vein.

(Read more: Kidney function test)

The following conditions can give abnormal results in the renal scan:

• Pyelonephritis (chronic kidney function)
• Acute kidney failure or chronic kidney failure
• Hydronephrosis (a condition in which the kidneys become swollen due to the incomplete emptying of the bladder)
• Glomerulonephritis (a condition in which the glomeruli are injured)
• Obstructive uropathy (a condition in which the urine is unable to leave the body and accumulates in the kidney)
• Injury to kidney
• Complications of a kidney transplant
• Narrowing of the blood vessels that provide blood to the kidneys

The benefits of doing a DTPA renal scan are as follows:

• It can help in evaluating the efficiency of each kidney individually, along with finding the cause of high blood pressure.
• There are no known adverse effects of radioactive medicine.
• The camera does not emit radiation during the test.

The only risk associated with DTPA renal scan so far is that sometimes, you may get an allergy from exposure to radioactive medicine.

The healthcare practitioner will ask you to drink a lot of fluids after the test. Inform them if you experience the following symptoms after the test:

• Dizziness
• Light-headedness
• Feeling unwell

You may need to urinate more frequently when captopril or furosemide is given.

(Read more: Kidney Infection)

The DTPA renal scan can be performed along with a GFR blood test.

(Read more: Chronic Kidney Disease)

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.