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Kidney anatomy
Kidney anatomy
Kidney - blood and urine flow
Kidney - blood and urine flow
Intravenous pyelogram
Intravenous pyelogram


Renal perfusion scintiscan

Alternative Names:
Renal perfusion scintigraphy; Radionuclide renal perfusion scan

What the risks are:

If you are pregnant or nursing, your health care provider may want to postpone the test to prevent exposuring the baby to the medications and radioisotopes used.

The amount of radioactivity in the injection is very small, and virtually all activity is gone from the body within 24 hours. Although it is extremely rare with renal perfusion scanning agents, a person may develop rash, swelling, or anaphylaxis.

Any time the body is penetrated (such as by a needle prick) there is a risk for infection. Injection into a vein also carries a slight risk for bleeding. The risk is no greater for renal perfusion scan than for intravenous injection of any sort.

There are certain risks involved with the administration of ACE inhibitors. Consult your health care provider regarding your particular condition.



Special considerations:

The accuracy of this test may be diminished in individuals with pre-existing kidney disease. You should consult your health care provider to determine if this test is appropriate for you.




Review Date: 11/3/2004
Reviewed By: Jeffrey J. Brown, MD FACR, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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