Renal Scarring Secondary to Vesicoureteric Reflux. Critical Assessment and New Grading

Abstract

Summary— One hundred and fifty children with proven urinary tract infection who were assessed by renal ultrasound (U/S), intravenous urography (IVU) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (M 99m Tc DMSA) scan, were studied to identify the sensitivity of each examination and the pick‐up rate of renal scarring secondary to vesicoureteric reflux. Sixty‐three of these children who had the examinations carried out within a 6‐month period were assessed in detail. A scan is the most accurate method of detecting early renal scars in the young age group (0–2 and 2–5 years), followed by ultrasound. The examinations are equally sensitive over the age of 5. A new grading system of the severity of renal scarring is presented.