Renal Scan

Renal Exams are used to evaluate the collection and flow of urine from the Kidneys. Some of the more common indications are:

• Urinary tract obstruction
• Evaluate Renal Function
• Renal Vascular Disease
• Polycystic Kidney disease
• Post transplant evaluation
• Pyelonephritis
• Hydronephrosis

During the first day of the exam the technologist will explain the procedure and ask you some questions regarding your overall kidney health. The technologist will then place an intravenous line in your arm and inject the radiopharmaceutical utilized to visualize kidneys and urinary tract. The technologist will then immediately begin taking serial images of your kidneys using a Nuclear Medicine camera. The camera does not emit any radiation, but rather detects the radiation emitted from the radiopharmaceutical that was injected. The camera is open so you are not completely surrounded and the technologist may stay in the scan room with you. You will be asked to hold still but you do not need to hold your breath. Many times your physician will ask us to introduce a diuretic called lasix halfway through the exam. This pharmaceutical will help your kidney process urine and excrete it into your ureters and bladder. In some cases this will provide us with further information regarding kidney function. Generally the entire procedure will take about an hour and a half.

Clothing
Please wear comfortable clothing, you will be asked to remove any metal objects especially those near your abdominal area.

Medications
You may take any medications prior to the exam.

Food and Drink
You may eat or drink prior to the exam.

The benefits of Renal Scan:

• Renal scan provide the clinician both a structural and functional evaluation of the kidneys. They are able to help determine blood flow into the kidneys as well as the kidneys ability to make and excrete urine.

Risks you should be aware of:

• Occasionally, the infusion of the diuretic can cause a strong urge to void.