QUANTITATIVE-EVALUATION OF RENAL PARENCHYMAL MASS WITH (99M)TECHNETIUM DIMERCAPTO-SUCCINIC ACID SCINTIGRAPHY AFTER NEPHROLITHOTOMY

Purpose: We detected renal parenchymal damage after nephrolithotomy. M aterials and Methods: We studied 12 patients with renal stones treated with nephrolithotomy. Renal function was determined with serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine values, and (99m)technetium dimerca pto-succinic acid scintigraphy of renal parenchymal tissue was perform ed before, and 7 days and 3 months after nephrolithotomy. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were done with the Wilcoxon signed rank test . Results: There was no visual difference in size and appearance of th e nephrotomy site between preoperative and postoperative visual scinti graphic evaluations. Quantitative data did not reveal any significant difference between kidneys with and without a nephrotomy incision (p > 0.05), as well as between nephrotomy regions and intact parenchyma wit hin the same kidney (p >0.05) 3 months after nephrolithotomy. There wa s no significant difference in serum BUN and creatinine levels between values preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively (p >0.05). Conclus ions: There was no significant change in renal cortical function and f unctioning renal parenchymal mass after nephrolithotomy as shown by se rum BUN and creatinine levels, and (99m)technetium dimercapto-succinic acid scintigraphy.