Evaluation of renal function with renography in patients with renal colic

Esmaeil Gharepapagh; kamaleddin Hassanzadeh; Amir Ghabousian; Faezeh Tarighat; Seyed Pouya Paknezhad; Moloud  Balafar; Robab Mehdizadeh Esfanjani; Hassan Soleimanpour

doi:10.18502/fem.v7i4.14471

Esmaeil Gharepapagh Medical Radiation Sciences Research Team, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
kamaleddin Hassanzadeh Urology Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Amir Ghabousian Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Faezeh Tarighat Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Seyed Pouya Paknezhad Emergency and Trauma Care Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Moloud Balafar Emergency and Trauma Care Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Robab Mehdizadeh Esfanjani Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Hassan Soleimanpour Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/fem.v7i4.14471

Keywords: Acute Renal Colic; Computed Tomography; Hydronephrosis; Renal Scintigraphy; Ultrasound

Abstract

Objective: Urolithiasis is responsible for the majority of urological emergencies. Although computed tomography (CT) scan can identify urinary obstruction caused by stones, there is a growing concern about exposure to radiation made by this method. Renal scintigraphy can provide valuable insights regarding the functional status of kidneys and can significantly reduce exposure to radiation.

The goal of present study was to assess renal function through renal scintigraphy in patients with acute renal colic and it explores the association between renal scintigraphy performance and ultrasound in terms of detecting hydronephrosis.

Methods: For this study, 20 patients with acute renal colic were chosen. Each patient underwent renal ultrasonography and subsequently received renal scintigraphy with Technetium-99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Tc-99m DTPA). Cohen's Kappa coefficient and Cramer's V correlation were employed to demonstrate the extent of agreement between ultrasound and renal scintigraphy.

Results: 12 (60%) patients were male. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) values were correlated with Cockcroft-Gault equation and the Gates method (P=0.002, r=0.642). There was a good agreement and a statistically significant relationship between ultrasound and renal scintigraphy in terms of detecting obstructive uropathy in both kidneys.

Conclusion: To conclude, GFR values were correlated between Cockcroft-Gault equation and the Gates method in patients with acute renal colic. There was a good agreement and statistically significant relationship between ultrasound and obstructive renography results in both kidneys. However, we found no association between perfusion phase of renal scintigraphy and ultrasonography in terms of hydronephrosis detection.