Normal ranges of renal function parameters for 99mTc-EC renal scintigraphy

BACKGROUND: Dynamic renal scintigraphy remains the recognized method for evaluation of kidney function and perfusion. Although there is an extensive body of knowledge about the use of technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3), much less has been written about renal technetium-99m-ethylenedicysteine (99mTc-EC) scintigraphy. The aim of this study was to determine the normal value of renal function parameters in 99mTc-EC dynamic renal scintigraphy: Tmax and T1/2. The effects of age, left or right side in the retroperitoneal space, and sex on those parameters were examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted on 123 patients (F/M: 70/53; aged 2–71; averaging 14.8 years of age) with at least one normal kidney. A total of 194 healthy kidneys were examined, including pediatric kidneys. RESULTS: According to this study, the normal value of Tmax is 2.85 min (± 1.16) and T1/2 is 8.7 min (± 3.61). Values calculated for pediatric studies are Tmax is 2.81 (± 1.16) and T1/2 is 8.63 (± 3.71). CONCLUSIONS: The normal value of secretory and excretory renal function parameters was calculated. Although the value is slightly lower for children, this is not statistically significant, as globally there are no differences between the kidney-location sides and sexes for any parameter.