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A kidney scan uses a small amount of radioactive material to take pictures of the kidneys and determine their function. It is a safe and simple outpatient procedure that can help diagnose kidney disease or impaired function. Results are usually obtained during a follow-up visit with the doctor.
A kidney scan is a test that is often used to test kidney function. During this test, a small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein. A few minutes later, a machine is used to scan and take pictures of the kidneys. This test can often determine things like blood flow to the kidneys or if there is urine backing up into the kidney once it has left the kidney, a condition known as urinary reflux. A kidney scan is a simple outpatient procedure and requires no recovery time for the patient.
A kidney scan is often ordered by a doctor if the patient is suspected to have kidney disease or impaired kidney function. The goal of this test is to measure the size of the kidneys and determine if there is any functional impairment, such as urine reflux or a problem with proper blood flow to the kidneys.
Just before the kidney scan is done, a small amount of radioactive material, called a radioisotope, is injected into a vein, typically in the arm. Adverse reactions to this substance are very rare, so it is considered a safe form of testing. Depending on the medications the patient usually takes, the doctor may recommend not taking any medications that may adversely affect the test until the kidney scan is complete. It is generally recommended that the patient drink plenty of fluids before the test.
A few minutes after the injection, the kidney scan itself will begin. This consists of several pictures, or pictures, taken of the kidneys. These images were taken several minutes apart. The whole procedure usually takes 30 minutes to an hour.
Once the kidney scan is complete, a computer will process all the information gleaned from the images. This information will allow the computer to measure the size of your kidneys and determine the amount of function. Your doctor will then use this information to make a diagnosis.
After the kidney scan, it is usually advisable to drink plenty of fluids to flush all the radioactive material out of the body. In some cases, the patient may find out the kidney scan results the same day as the procedure. It’s more common, however, to get the results during a follow-up visit with the ordering physician.
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