Assessment of Hydroureteronephrosis in Children Using Diuretic Radionuclide Urography

Abstract

Diuretic radionuclide urography was developed as a safe, accurate and non-invasive method of assessing nephroureteral dilatation to distinguish between obstructive and non-obstructive hydronephrosis. The nuclear medicine gamma camera/computer system is used to monitor the washout pattern of an isotope from any locus of suspected obstruction in the upper urinary tract. This technique was used to study 62 children with hydroureteronephrosis of diverse causes. Our experience suggests that it is accurate in determining whether true obstruction exists in dilated systems and effective in predicting which patients will benefit from corrective operation.