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Kidney control in spina bifida: is ultrasound sufficient or is DMSA scanning needed?
Cerebrospinal Fluid Research volume 1, Article number: S39 (2004)
Background
Prospective pilot study to evaluate the predictive value of ultrasound compared to DMSA-scans for assessment of renal damage in spina bifida patients.
Materials and methods
Thirty-five spina bifida patients were evaluated by ultrasound and the outcome of ultrasound was used to predict the outcome of subsequent DMSA-scans of the same patients. Ultrasound parameters were kidney length, dilatation of collecting systems and visible scarring of kidney parenchyma. DMSA parameters were kidney size, shape and split renal function.
Results
In 21 patients with normal ultrasound, DMSA scan was normal. In 3 patients with abnormal ultrasound (1 scar, 1 abnormal shape of kidney, 1 dilated system), the DMSA scan was normal. In 11 patients with abnormal ultrasound ultrasonography predicted the outcome of the abnormal DMSA scan correctly.
Conclusion
Except for a 14% false-positive findings ultrasound is a safe predictor of normal vs abnormal kidneys in pediatric spina bifida patients. This means that kidney control by DMSA scanning can be confined to the small group of patients with severe scoliosis in whom correct visualisation by ultrasound appears to be impossible.
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Dik, P., Beek, F. & de Jong, T. Kidney control in spina bifida: is ultrasound sufficient or is DMSA scanning needed?. Fluids Barriers CNS 1 (Suppl 1), S39 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-8454-1-S1-S39
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-8454-1-S1-S39
Keywords
- Spina Bifida
- Kidney Size
- Ultrasound Parameter
- Prospective Pilot Study
- Visible Scarring