DMSA SCINTIGRAPHY IN RENAL DUPLEX SYSTEM

During a 4-year period 40 children (13 boys and 27 girls) with renal d uplex system were examined with DMSA scintigraphy. The age at the inve stigation varied from 18 days to 9 years, mean 2.5 years. Duplicated s ystem existed in 52 kidneys, bilaterally in 12 cases, right-sided in 1 0 and left-sided in 18 cases. The renal DMSA scintigraphy of the 52 du plicated kidneys revealed insignificant parenchymal damage in 19 kidne ys. Moderate parenchymal damage existed in 10 kidneys. In the remainin g 23 kidneys, severely deteriorated function of the upper moiety was f ound in 15 cases and of the lower pole in 9 cases, as both moieties we re affected in one kidney. The function of the severely deteriorated m oiety varied between 0 % and 14 %, mean 5.7 % of the total renal funct ion. All the 23 cases with severely deteriorated function were operate d upon, 22 with heminephrectomy and one with nephrectomy. The assessme nt of parenchymal function of the separate parts of the kidney with du plex system by DMSA scintigraphy is of great value in the decision of management and surgical procedure.