How is DMSA renal scan done?

A DMSA scan of the kidneys involves an injection of the radiopharmaceutical into the vein, followed by the scan about 90 minutes to 4 hours after the injection. You can usually leave the hospital or nuclear medicine facility after the injection and return later.

Is DMSA test painful?

The DMSA scan itself does not hurt, but an intravenous (IV) line is needed to give a tiny amount of the radioisotope before the test. Most children are able to lie perfectly still for the test; young children may even nap through the test.

What happens at a DMSA scan?

During the scan, a special camera picks up the gamma rays and turns them into pictures. The kidney cells (living parts) that are ‘active’ take up the DMSA and emit gamma rays. These are shown on the images as ‘hot spots’, and may be bright or in a colour.

Can you eat before a DMSA scan?

There are no special preparations for a DMSA kidney scan. You can eat, drink and take any medicines as normal. A small amount of radioactive tracer will be injected into a vein in your arm. You may have had a blood test in the past; this is much the same.

Are you awake for a renal scan?

A renal scan is an outpatient, or same-day, procedure. You won’t have to stay at the hospital overnight. A nuclear medicine technician performs the scan. This is usually done in either in a hospital radiology department or a medical office with special equipment.

Is EC scan painful?

This does not hurt, but it holds the child very still for the pictures and keeps him or her from falling off the table. Your child will be catheterized (have a tube put in the bladder) for this test. This is done to keep the bladder empty of urine so the function of the kidneys can be seen on the screen (Picture 2).

How long does DMSA scan take?

A DMSA renal scan is a test to look at how the kidneys are working. It takes three to four hours in total. Your child will first be injected with a very small amount of radioactive medicine, which will mix with their blood and go to their kidneys. After two to three hours, they will have the scan.

How long does a renal scan take?

The cuff or band on the upper arm is removed, and the radioactive material moves through your blood. The kidneys are scanned a short time later. Several images are taken, each lasting 1 or 2 seconds. The total scan time takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

How do I prepare for a kidney scan?

Typically, you don’t need to make any special preparations before a renal scan. You can usually eat your normal diet. Sedation isn’t usually necessary. You should tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you’re taking.

When do you need a DMSA scan?

A DMSA scan is used to assess the function and location of the kidneys, that is, to check how well the kidneys are working. It is also used to show any potentially scarred areas in the kidneys, which may not be working as well as they should.

How do I prepare for a renal scan?

What is a dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan?

1 Department of Paediatrics, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. The dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan is a method for assessing kidney function. Indications for DMSA scanning in children with urinary tract infection (UTI), as well as timing, have changed.

What is a DMSA scan?

A DMSA scan is a radionuclide scan that uses dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) in assessing renal morphology, structure and function.

What does decreased Tc 99m mean on a DMSA scan?

Decreased Tc 99m -DMSA uptake in both kidneys, suggestive of renal failure. A DMSA scan is a radionuclide scan that uses dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) in assessing renal morphology, structure and function.

What does decreased tc99m-dmsa uptake in both kidneys indicate?

Decreased Tc99m-DMSA uptake in both kidneys, suggestive of renal failure. A DMSA scan is a radionuclide scan that uses dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) in assessing renal morphology, structure and function. Radioactive technetium-99m is combined with DMSA and injected into a patient, followed by imaging with a gamma camera.