• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.239-244
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• 2003

$^{99m}Tc-MAG3$ Scintigraphic Scan is sensitive at depicting focal parenchymal abnormalities and can be used for the measurement of overall renal function. We experienced a 12-year-old girl presenting with fever and flank pain. On the ultrasonogram and post-voiding delayed image of $^{99m}Tc-MAG3$ scintigraphic scan, severe right cortical atrophy and hydronephrosis with vesicoureteral reflux were detected. We could demonstrate the reflux nephropathy by these two diagnostic work-up without conventional voiding cystourethrography.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2013

Purpose: In children, 24-hour urine collections are unreliable for evaluating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) because of the difficulty of regulating voiding and the daily variation of urinary creatinine up to 25%. Additionally, creatinine clearance (Ccr) based on urinary creatinine is considered inaccurate. The purpose of this study was to compare estimated GFR determined using Ccr, formulas with serum cystatin C and creatinine, and $^{99m}Tc$-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) dynamic renal scintigraphy. Methods: This retrospective study included 101 patients (age, <18 years) who visited Chung-Ang University Hospital between July 2011 and August 2012. GFR was estimated using 24-hour urinary creatinine, five formulas with serum creatinine and cystatin C, and $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan. Results: Of the 101 patients, glomerular renal diseases were present in 60 patients (59.4%) and non-glomerular diseases were present in 41 patients (40.6%). There was a significant correlation between estimated GFR determined using $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan and Ccr (r=0.389, P <0.001). The correlation values between estimated GFR determined using $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan and each formula of Schwartz, Counahan-Barratt, Cockcroft-Gault, Filler and Lepage, and Bokencamp were 0.265 (P=0.007), 0.128 (P=0.044), 0.230 (P=0.021), 0.356 (P<0.001), and 0.355 (P <0.001), respectively. $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan was correlated with estimated-GFR by all formulas in decreased renal function. Conclusion: Estimated GFRs determined using serum creatinine and cystatin C, and $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan correlated well with estimated GFR determined using Ccr. $^{99m}Tc$-MAG3 renal scan may be replaced for evaluation of renal function with convenience in patients with renal disease and decreased renal function in childhood.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.519-526
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• 1999

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of a technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (Tc-99m MAG3) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) performed on transplanted kidney. Materials and Methods: Thirty renal transplant patients were included in this study. Planar scan was performed for 30 minutes using 555 MBq Tc-99m MAG3. A post-voiding SPECT scan was acquired on the third, seventh, fourteenth and twenty eighth day after transplantation. Results: SPECT scan showed interpretable image quality in 26 of 30 patients (86.7%) and 84 in 120 scans (70%). Fourteen of 26 patients with interpretable SPECT image showed decreased or increased radioactivity, but only 5 had abnormal findings on the planar scan. Focal SPECT defects were seen in allografts with normal function (n=3), acute tubular necrosis (n=3), and acute rejection (n=2). The defects are thought to reflect focally underperfused renal parenchyme or, in normal allografts, an artifact from uneven radioactivity distribution. Four of 10 patients with renal arterial variation showed focally decreased radioactivity and SPECT helped guide funker studies that confirmed the exact cause. Five of 10 patients with acute tubular necrosis or acute rejection showed focally decreased radioactivity, but its relation to the patients' clinical course was not clear. Focally increased radioactivity was observed in 5 allografts with normal function and 1 with double ureter in which local clearance delay was observed. Conclusion: Tc-99m MAG3 SPECT renal scan can detect additional focal abnormalities compared to planar scan. Further study is necessary to elucidate the exact clinical significance of the SPECT findings.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2016

Purpose Dynamic kidney scan is a typical imaging technique that visualizes kidney function. Reproducibility of dynamic kidney scans has been evaluated by comparing low-dose kidney scans with low-dose radiopharmaceutical and standard dynamic kidney scan. With this comparative study, if reproducibility is superb, the dynamic kidney scan method with reduced radioactivity to patients is to be utilized and radiation exposure to patient is to be reduced. Materials and Methods For gamma camera, Orbiter, SymbiaE (Siemens, Germany) was used. Among patients who had used 370 Mbq (10 mCi) from January of 2013 to February 2014 and other patients who had used 185 Mbq (5 mCi) from March of 2014 to July of 2015 with identical condition, 21 subjects using DTPA and 20 subjects using $MAG_3$, 41 subjects in total, had been selected as subjects for data. From renogram of the result image, frame of the peak point was selected. Then, region of interest of kidney and background had been selected and Kidney to Background Ratio has been calculated for comparison. Results In tests using DTPA, kidney to background ratio when using 370 Mbq was $5.67{\pm}0.8$ at average while it was $5.62{\pm}0.87$ when using 185 Mbq, which didn't show much difference. Also in the tests using $MAG_3$, kidney to background ratio when using 370 Mbq was $14.95{\pm}2.58$ at average and $14.56{\pm}2.02$ in 185 Mbq, which neither showed much difference. In paired sample t-test, p-value was 0.566 in DTPA and 0.363 in $MAG_3$, which confirmed that there was no difference between the groups. Conclusion In identical patients, when dose was decreased from 370 Mbq to 185 Mbq, reproducibility of dynamic kidney scan was proven to be excellent. Low-dose Dynamic kidney scan can achieve results with fine reproducibility without improvement in performance of gamma camera and is expected to reduce radiation exposure to patient.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.306-313
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• 2002

Purpose: Diuretic renography (DR) can be false negative in patients with upper urinary tract obstruction due to low compliance of the renal pelvis. Delayed parenchymal transit (DPT) may be a valuable sign in case of false negative DR. We compared the diagnostic values of DR and DPT during Tc-99m MAG3 diuretic scan in adults with suspected unilateral obstructive uropathy. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four patients(male:female=30:24, age: $40.7{\pm}15.5$ yrs) who underwent Tc-99m MAG3 diuretic scan due to suspicious unilateral obstructive uropathy were analyzed. DR with a $T_{1/2}\;of\;>\;15min$ was considered as positive for obstruction. DPT was considered to be present when there was delayed appearance of radioactivity in the renal pelvis and prolonged retention of radioactivity in the renal parenchyma. The renal area ratio was defined as the ratio of pixel number of hydronephrotic kidney over that of normal contralateral at $1{\sim}2min$ images. Definition of obstruction was improved hydronephrosis after intervention, or aggravated hydronephrosis without intervention. Non-obstruction was defined as unchanged hydronephrosis over 6 months. Results: Twenty-six renal units had obstruction and 28 no obstruction. The sensitivities of DR and DPT were 69% (18/26) and 50% (13/26) respectively. Two renal units with DPT but negative DR showed the renal area ratio of <1.1. Among the 20 obstructive renal units with DPT or positive DR, 13 with DPT had lower renal area ratio than 7 renal units without DPT ($0.97{\pm}0.20\;vs\;1.30{\pm}0.41,\;p<0.05$). Differential renal function was not significantly different between these groups. DPT correctly diagnosed all renal units with non-obstruction (specificity 100%), while the specificity of DR was 89% (25/28). Conclusion: DPT during Tc-99m MAG3 diuretic scan may be a valuable sign in diagnosing urinary obstruction especially in patients with false negative DR and early HN.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.199-208
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• 2016

$^{99}mTc-MAG_3$ Renal scan is a method that acquires dynamic renal scan image by using $^{99}mTc-MAG_3$ and dynamically visualizes process of radioactive agent being absorbed to kidney and excreted continuously. Once the test starts, ratio in both kidneys in 1~2.5 minutes was measured to obtain split renal function and split renal function can be expressed in ratio based on overall renal function. This study is based on compares split renal function obtained from data acquired from posterior detector, which is a conventional renal function test method, with split renal function acquired from the geometric mean of values obtained from anterior and posterior detectors, and studies utility of attenuation compensation depending on difference in geometric mean kidney depth. From July, 2015 to February 2016, 33 patients who undertook $^{99}mTc-MAG_3$ Renal scan(13 male, 20 female, average age of 44.66 with range of 5~70, average height of 160.40cm, average weight of 55.40kg) were selected as subjects. Depth of kidney was shown to be 65.82 mm at average for left and 71.62 mm at average for right. In supine position, 30 out of 33 patients showed higher ratio of deep-situated kidney and lower ratio of shallow-situated kidney. Such result is deemed to be due to correction by attenuation between deep-situated kidney and detector and in case where there is difference between the depth of both kidneys such as, lesions in or around kidney, spine malformation, and ectopic kidney, ratio of deep-situated kidney must be compensated for more accurate calculation of split renal function, when compared to the conventional test method (posterior detector counting).

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 1995

Purpose : We analysed $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$ renal scans to evaluate renal function of transplanted kidney and to detect various renal transplant complications, measuring the ratio of renal radioactivity at three minutes to that at 20 minutes(elimination index). Material and Methods : The fifty seven renal transplantation recipients were studied. There were 50 normal functioning transplanted kidneys as group I and 7 abnormal function-ing transplanted kidney, including 5 cases of acute renal rejection, 2 cases of acute tubular necrosis as group IIl. The protocol consisted of: (1) $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$ 740MBq injection intravenously : (2) sequential imaging for 2min(60two-second images) followed by 30min(30 sixty-second images) : (3) drawing of region of interest(ROI) on renal imaging; (4) time-activity corves were generated from renal ROI after background subtraction, and time of maximum activity($T_{max}$) and half time of maximal peak radioactivity($T_{1/2}$) were produced in the renogram curve. (5) EI through Bischof-Delaloye method as determined on the renogram curve. Results : Normal group( I ) shows mean EI of 2.21(95.0% Confidence limit of 2.01-2.87), $T_{max}$ of 154 sec, $T_{1/2}$ of 1,139 sec. Abnormal group(II) shows mean EI of 0.74, $T_{max}$ of 1,466 sec, $T_{1/2}$ of 19,224 sec. The EI, $T_{max}$, $T_{1/2}$, BUN and serum creatinine values are significantly different between normal group(I) and abnormal group(II) (p<0.0001). Conclusion : By measuring EI with $^{99m}Tc-MAG_3$, renal function of transplanted kidney could be easily evaluated and various complications could be detected early.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2006

Purpose : Neonatal hydronephrosis is diagnosed with an incidence of 4.5-7% of pregnancies. Recently, early detection of neonatal hydroneprosis with antenatal ultrasonography has be-come possible. But consensus about its management has not been reached, especially concerning surgical intervention. The purpose of this study is to analyze the natural course of neonatal hydronephrosis and to determine the guideline of surgical intervention and follow up study. Methods : Sixty nine hydronephrotic kidneys were confirmed from April 2001 to April 2005. All cases were rechecked by ultrasonography once at least and had a minimum follow-up of 6 months. We classified the patients into 4 groups according to the anterior posterior pelvic diameter(APPD) on perinatal ultrasonography. Ultrasonography to measure the APPD diameter and Society for Fetal Urology(SFU) grade, $^{99m}Tc-MAG3$ scan were done to a set protocol. Pyeloplasty was peformed according to the protocol. Results : Pyeloplasty was not needed in most cases where the APPD was below 10 mm and where the SFU grade were less than grade 3. Many cases with APPD 10 mm above or SFU grade III above had undergone pyeloplasty. We found a correlation between obstruction grade on MAG3 scan and whether surgery was performed or not. Conclusion : If APPD is above 10 mm, SFU grade is above grade 3 or urinary tract obstruction is suspected by MAG3 scan, pyeloplasty must be considered. In cases where APPD is below 10mm and SFU grade is less than grade 3, we can observe the natural course of neonatal hydronephrosis with consecutive follow-up. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2006;10:33-39)

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.497-503
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• 1995

We evaluated diagnostic accuracy of diuretic renal scan with standardization in 45 childrens(107 hydronephrotic kidneys) with 91 diuretic assessments. Sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 78%, and accuracy was 84% in 49 hydronephrotic kidneys with standardization. Diuretic renal scan without standardization, sensitivity was 100%, specificity was 38%, and accuracy was 57 % in 58 hydronephrotic kidneys. The false-positive results were observed in 25 cases without standardization, and in 8 cases with standardization. In diuretic renal scans without standardization, the causes of false-positive results were 10 early injection of lasix before mixing of radioactivity in pelvocalyceal system, 4 full bladder, 2 markedly dilated pelvocalyceal systems postpyeloplsty, 6 extrarenal pelvis, and 3 immature kidneys of neonates. In diuretic renal scans with standardization the causes of false-positive results were 2 markedly dilated systems postpyeloplsty, 2 extrarenal pelvis, 1 immature kidney of neonate, and 2 severe venal dysfunction, 1 vesicoureteral reflux. In diuretic renal scan without standardization the false-positive results by inadequate study were common, but false-positive results by inadequate study were not found after standardization. The false-positive results by dilated pelvocalyceal systems postpyeloplsty, extrarenal pelvis, and immature kidneys of neonates were not dissolved after standardization. In conclusion, diagnostic accuracy of diuretic renal scan with standardization was useful in children with renal outflow tract obstruction by improving specificity significantly.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2003

Purpose : Neonatal hydronephrosis has been detected with increasing frequency with the widespread use of prenatal ultrasonography, but the consensus about its postnatal management has not yet been reached, especially about surgical intervention. We attempted to determine the guideline of follow-up study and surgical intervention of hydronephrosis by analyzing clinical outcomes of neonates with hydronephrosis. Materials and Methods : Between 1994 and 2000, 128 hydronephrotic kidneys were postnatally confirmed. Cases associated with other urologic anomalies were excluded and 90 unilateral hydronephrotic kidneys with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were enrolled in this study. We classified the patients into 6 groups according to the anterior posterior pelvic diameter(APPD) at initial ultrasonography(USG) within 1 month after birth. Renal USG and $Tc^{99m}-mercaptoacetyl$ triglycerine(MAG3) scan were done according to a set protocol, and pyeloplasty was performed when indicated according to our protocol. Results : Most cases whose APPD were below 10 mm improved or resolved. Only few cases with APPD above 20 mm showed spontaneous improvement and most(88%) had undergone operation. Those with initial APPD within 10-19 mm showed variable outcomes. When the risk factors for irreversible renal functional deterioration were analyzed, the age at pyeloplasty and pre-operative functional deficit were significant. Conclusion : We concluded that in infants with initial APPD below 10 mm, consideration of surgery is not needed, and in those with initial APPD above 20 mm, early operation is recommended. Our set protocol based on initial USG is useful, but the cut-off value of relative renal function(RRF) for operation might be increased to 40% to improve post operative RRF.