Importance of DMSA scintigraphy in children with the first urinary infection

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of Tc-99m DMSA scintigraphy in children with onset of symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI). Diagnosis of UTI was confirmed with clinical and biological data and urinary culture.We observed 36 children(29 female and 4 male) without known previous UTI, aged between 1-8 years with average age of 3,7 yrs. DMSA images were obtained within 10 days of diagnosis. Focal cortical defects suggestive of renal scarring with reduction of DMSA uptake were found in 11(30,5%)patients, unilateral in 9 and bilateral in 2 children. Changes of DMSA scan were classified in three groups (A and B-with focal changes of different intensity, C-global contraction of kidney or shrinken kidney). Among the 14 children with clinical symptoms for acute pyelonephritis (APN),8(57%) pts showed abnormal DMSA scintigraphy findings, while 3(13,6%) pts of the 22 children considered as UTI also revealed pathology in DMSA scintigraphy. After treatment 6 months later, 11 abnormal scintigrams were repeated, from which 45,4%(5/11) did completely normalized, 27,3%(3/11) showed partial recovery and 27,3% (3/11) revealed constantly renal lesions in DMSA scan. As a conclusion, the first UTI in childhood is a well recognised cause of chronic renal scarring and renal failure in a small percentage of children. Tc-99m DMSA scintigraphy should be a routine examination in the first UTI with and without clinical findings of APN