Kidney size estimation in Korean children with Technesium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy

• Published in: Clinical and experimental pediatrics 2014, 57(1), , pp.41-45
• Main Authors: Lee, Min Jung, Son, Mi Kyung, Kwak, Byung Ok, Park, Hye Won, Chung, Sochung, Kim, Kyo Sun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Age groups; Child; Children & youth; Kidney; Kidneys; Length; Original; Radiation; Regression analysis; Technesium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid scan; Urinary tract diseases; Urinary tract infections; Urine; Urogenital system; Variables; 소아과학
• ISSN: 1738-1061; 2092-7258; 2713-4148
• DOI: 10.3345/kjp.2014.57.1.41

Renal size is an important indicator to determine adequate organ growth in children. The aim of this study was to estimate renal size with Technesium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan and propose a simple formula for predicting renal length in normal Korean children. This study included 346 children (148 boys and 198 girls; age range, 1 month to 17 years) in whom renal length was measured using the DMSA scan. Patients with anatomical renal abnormalities or acute pyelonephritis were excluded. Children were divided into two groups: 214 children (61.8%) were less than a year old (group 1) and 132 (38.2%) were ≥1 year (group 2). Renal length was larger on the left side than the right side, and there was no significant gender-related difference in renal length. We propose the following formula for renal length based on the analysis of the 346 children in our study: the formula was as follows: 4.682×age (month)(0.137), R(2) =0.780. In group 1, the formula was renal length (cm)=0.127×age (month)+5.144, R(2) =0.354, and in group 2, the formula was 0.334×age (year)+6.477, R(2) =0.829. It is difficult to establish simple formulae in infants (R(2) =0.354). Therefore, further studies including relevant variables are needed for this age group. We proposed formulae to estimate renal length in Korean children over 1 year of age by using the DMSA scan.