This scan can also be used to diagnose:. The risk from the radioactive tracer is very low. The amount used in the test is very small. You may feel some slight discomfort when the tracer is injected. Allergic reactions to the tracer are rare, but they may happen. Lying on the scanning table during the procedure may cause some discomfort or pain for certain people. You may have other risks that are unique to you. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure.
You may have a kidney scan as an outpatient or as part of your stay in a hospital. The way the test is done may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare provider's practices. The kidney scan is not painful. But you may have some discomfort or pain from lying still during the test, or the insertion of the IV.
The technologist will use all possible comfort measures and do the scan as quickly as possible to minimize any discomfort or pain. You should move slowly when getting up from the scanner table to avoid any dizziness or lightheadedness.
You may be told to drink plenty of fluids and empty your bladder often for about 24 hours after the scan. This will help flush the radioactive tracer from your body. The medical staff will check the IV site for any signs of redness or swelling. Tell your healthcare provider if you see any pain, redness, or swelling at the IV site after you go home.
The patient lies on an exam table that slides in between two parallel gamma camera heads, above and beneath the patient. Sometimes, the doctor will orient the gamma camera heads at a degree angle over the patient's body.
In SPECT, the gamma camera heads rotate around the patient's body to produce detailed, three-dimensional images. Ordinary x-ray exams pass x-rays through the body to create an image. Nuclear medicine uses radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers. Your doctor typically injects this material into your bloodstream. Or you may swallow it or inhale it as a gas.
The material accumulates in the area under examination, where it gives off gamma rays. Special cameras detect this energy and, with the help of a computer, create pictures that detail how your organs and tissues look and function.
Unlike other imaging techniques, nuclear medicine focuses on processes within the body. These include rates of metabolism or levels of various other chemical activities. Prior to imaging, you will be injected with a small amount of radiotracer. Diuretic renal scintigraphy, ACE-inhibitor renal scintigraphy, renal perfusion and function imaging will typically begin imaging while the tracer is being administered. Cortical imaging requires a two- to three-hour delay after tracer administration for imaging to begin.
You will lie on an exam table. If necessary, a nurse or technologist will insert an intravenous IV catheter into a vein in your hand or arm. When it is time for the imaging to begin, the gamma camera will take a series of images. The camera may rotate around you or it may stay in one position and you will be asked to change positions in between images. While the camera is taking pictures, you will need to remain still for brief periods of time. You may be asked to sit or lie down for the exam.
You will feel a slight pin prick when the radiotracer is injected. After the injection, you could experience a brief metallic taste. You will be asked to lie on your back or sit up, and will need to remain as still as possible while the camera takes each picture.
It is important to remain still during the exam. Nuclear imaging causes no pain. However, having to remain still or in one position for long periods may cause discomfort. In some cases, the camera may move very close to your body. This is necessary to obtain the best quality images. If you are claustrophobic, you should inform the technologist before your exam begins. After the exam, you may need to wait until the technologist determines if more images are needed.
Sometimes, the technologist takes more images to clarify or better visualize certain areas or structures. If contrast dye is used, you will be removed from the scanner after the first set of scans has been completed. A second set of scans will be taken after the contrast dye has been given. If contrast dye is used for your procedure, you may feel some effects when the dye is injected into the IV line.
These effects include a warm flushing sensation, a salty or metallic taste in the mouth, a brief headache, or nausea. These effects usually last for a few moments.
You should tell the technologist if you feel any breathing difficulties, sweating, numbness, or heart palpitations. You may be asked to wait for a short period of time while the radiologist examines the scans to make sure the images are clear. The CT scan is not painful. You may have some discomfort or pain from lying still during the test.
This may be because of recent surgery or injury. The technologist will use all possible comfort measures and do the scan as quickly as possible to minimize any discomfort or pain. If contrast dye was used during your procedure, you may be watched afterward for any side effects or reactions to the contrast dye.
These include itching, swelling, rash, or trouble breathing. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any pain, redness, or swelling at the IV site after you go home. This could be a sign of infection or other type of reaction.
Otherwise, you don't need any special care after a CT scan of the kidney. You may go back to your usual diet and activities unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions, depending on your situation.
Search Encyclopedia. Why might I need a CT scan of the kidney? A CT scan of the kidney may be done to check the kidneys for: Tumors or other lesions Blockages caused by kidney stones or an abdominal mass Abscesses Polycystic kidney disease Urinary incontinence or retention Kidney failure Defects you were born with A CT scan is also useful when another type of exam, such as X-ray or physical exam, is not conclusive.
What are the risks of a CT scan of the kidney? Tell your provider if: You are pregnant or think you may be. Right after the tracer is injected, the imaging will begin.
A special gamma camera is used to track the radioactivity. Images may be shown on a PC screen and then stored on film. During this test, you will be on an exam table. You will be asked to lie still to keep the images from blurring. The NM Renal Scan can take 45 minutes to 3 hours, based on the goals of the test.
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