Review

Scintigraphic Imaging in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections

  • Arzu Cengiz
  • Yakup Yürekli

Received Date: 29.03.2012 Accepted Date: 05.07.2012 Meandros Med Dent J 2012;13(3):43-47

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease of childhood. Infection with involvement of the renal parenchyma could lead to irreversible scarring so early diagnosis and treatment are important. Diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) is usually based on clinical and laboratory data. Ultrasound is usually the first imaging modality in the diagnosis of UTI in terms of determining pathology such as renal structural abnormalities, obstruction and stone. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) is the method of choice to determine vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), which can be found highly in patients with urinary tract infection. Tc99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal cortical scintigraphy is the gold standard method for localizing infection in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis and renal scars. The role of the Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET and labeled leukocyte scintigraphy is limited to the renal cyst infections and DMSA scintigraphy is the nuclear medicine technique should be chosen for evaluation of UTI.

Keywords: Urinary tract infection, renal scarring, dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan