NOMOGRAMS OF RENAL LENGTH IN CHILDREN OBTAINED FROM DMSA SCINTIGRAPHY

The aim of this study was to establish nomograms of renal length in ch ildren comparing age, body weight, and height. Renal lengths were obta ined from data derived from Tc-99m DMSA scintigraphy in 266 patients w ith 532 kidneys that appeared normal on DMSA studies. The children's a ges ranged from 6 days to 19 years. Renal length appeared to have nonl inear relationships with patient weight and age, but was found to corr elate linearly with patient height. On average, scintigraphic renal le ngth exceeded sonographic renal length by approximately 1 cm. The most likely explanation for this is the effect of respiration causing rena l motion during the acquisition of the scintigraphic images. It is hop ed that the nomograms derived from these data will be of use in routin e clinical practice for nuclear medicine departments performing DMSA s cintigraphy in children.