Isotopic scan for diagnosis of renal disease.

Renal imaging with radio isotopes, or renal scintigraphy, allows the quantitative evaluation of renal function and urodynamics. Measurement of split renal function provides essential information in various situations of clinical practice. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor renography makes it possible to detect patients with renovascular hypertension and to predict improvement of hypertension after revascularization. Diuresis renography aids in differentiating urinary obstruction from unobstructed dilatation. Renal scintigraphy is a valuable tool in the observation of grafts after renal transplantation. In this review, the basic aspects and major clinical applications of renal scintigraphy are discussed.