Experiences with radioisotope renography in children.

Radioisotope renography provides, from the individual kidney, a graphic record of the renal vascularity, of the excretory funtion of the tubular cells, and of the evacuatory capability of the tubules and the kidney pelvis. By the use of additional scintillation counters, an index of the rate of extraction of the isotope from the blood and its rate of accumulation in the bladder can also be obtained. Since its original description in 1956 by Taplin, Meredith, Kade, and Winter, renography has been extensively employed in the investigation of renal disease in adults. Only one contribution relating to its use in children has previously been made in an English language publication and in that series the investigation was limited to children over the age of 3 years (Wenzl, Tauxe, Burke, Hunt, and Stickler, 1965a, b). The present article is an analysis of 207 renographic examinations performed in 159 children, ranging in age from 1 week to 15 years, with various types and degrees of renal pathology, mostly of a surgical nature. The main object of performing the test was to obtain an assessment of renal function and emptying ability which, by repetition, could detect changes in the pathological state of the individual kidney. At the start ofthe investigation it was not known whether or not valid conclusions could be drawn from repeated renograms and the question of the demonstration of alterations in renal pathology is not discussed here though many of the repeat examinations are included in the analysis. Renograms performed after the relief of obstructive uropathy are not included.