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A renal scan is a nuclear medicine exam in which a small amount of radioactive material (radioisotope) is used to measure the function of the kidneys. A Renal Scan is used to help diagnosis kidney disease and certain problems with the rest of the urinary tract.
It is primarily used to evaluate the function and size of the kidneys.
How is the test performed?
The patient receives an injection into a vein in the arm containing a very small amount of radioactive material tracer. Adverse reaction to this injection is very rare. This tracer is carried in the blood to the kidneys. Images are taken during the injection to see the blood flow in the kidneys.
Images of the kidneys will then be taken for 60 – 90 minutes. This will enable to see how well the kidneys are working over a period of time. During this time it may be necessary to administer a pharmaceutical in order for us to better determine if there is any obstruction in the urinary tract or a problem with the blood vessel which supplies the kidneys.
What happens after the test?
When the exam is completed, the nuclear medicine physician will review patient's images, prepare a written report and discuss the results with the patient.
