Does a normal DMSA obviate the performance of voiding cystourethrography in evaluation of young children after their first urinary tract infection?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a normal technetium-99m-labeled dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan obviates the need for voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) in evaluating young children after their first urinary tract infection (UTI).


METHODS
This was a 10-year retrospective review of 142 children (age < or = 2 years, 77 boys and 65 girls) who had their first UTI and were admitted to a tertiary care general hospital. The association between DMSA renal scan results and VCUG results performed 48 hours and 1 month after diagnosis was evaluated.


RESULTS
DMSA renal scans and VCUG were performed in 142 patients. Of these, 99 patients (69.7%) had evidence of pyelonephritis, although only 2 (1.4%) had evidence of renal scarring; 42 (29.6%) had vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) on VCUG. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratio negative for abnormalities on DMSA renal scans for detecting the the presence of VUR on VCUG were 88% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 73% to 100%), 36% (95% CI = 26% to 46%), 37% (95% CI = 27% to 46%), 88 % (95% CI = 73% to 100%), and 0.33 (95% CI = 0 to 0.88), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with a negative DMSA renal scan during their first UTI episode rarely have VUR and may never have high-grade VUR. Avoiding VCUGs in children with negative DMSA renal scans could significantly reduce the use of this potentially traumatic test.
Tseng
Min-Hua
MH
Department of Pediatrics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lin
Wei-Jen
WJ
Lo
Wen-Tsung
WT
Wang
Sheng-Ru
SR
Chu
Mong-Ling
ML
Wang
Chih-Chien
CC
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D004113:Succimer; D013667:Technetium; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014567:Urography / Q000379:methods*
D013667:Technetium; D004113:Succimer