Paediatric renal scan

Department of Nuclear Medicine 

What is this information about?

This information is about your child’s kidney (renal) scan. 

Why have I been given this information?

You have been given this information because your doctor has referred (sent) your child for a renal scan.  

Reading this information can help you to know what to expect from your scan. Following the advice will help to make sure that the scan goes as well as it can.   

What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear medicine:  

• is a safe and painless technique which provides medical images of the body.  
• uses small amounts of radioactive materials as tracers to diagnose or treat disease. In diagnosing a condition, the radiation is detected by a special type of camera called a “Gamma camera”.  

What is a renal scan?

There are three types of paediatric renal scan:

• MAG3 Renogram. Images are taken straight after the radiotracer is given to assess how urine drains from the kidneys to the bladder. 
• Indirect Micturating Cystogram.  Images are taken after the MAG3 Renogram to assess how the bladder empties. ‘Micturating’ means passing urine. A cystogram provides an image that shows the bladder’s structure and how it is working. 
• DMSA Scan. Images are taken 3 hours after the radiotracer has been given to assess kidney scarring or disease. 

What can I expect during my appointment?

• Most children who have a kidney scan will need a small cannula (hollow needle attached to a tube) placed in the vein of their arm before they attend the Nuclear Medicine Department.  This is done by a specialist team on the Children’s Assessment Unit which is in the Women’s and Children’s block (West Wing, St Richard’s Hospital).     

Once your child has had their cannula placed you can make your way with them to Nuclear Medicine (South Wing).

• We will give your child an injection of a radioactive substance (‘radiotracer’) into a vein in their arm or through the cannula. The radioactivity does not last for long in the body.  
• For a MAG3 Renogram we will start the images straight away. If the doctor has told us that your child needs it, we will go on to do an indirect micturating cystogram. This depends on your child being ok to have this. We will talk with you about this on the day. 
• For a DMSA Scan we will then remove the cannula, and you can leave the department if you wish. You must return for the second part of the scan appointment around 3 hours later. 
• Each renal scan takes around 40 minutes. You may stay with your child throughout the whole procedure. 
• Your child must lie as still as they can on a ‘table’ while they are having their scan. A camera will take images from underneath them. The camera will not touch them, and you will be able to sit beside them during the scan.   
• Bring along any of their favourite toys or comforters if it would help them to stay calm and comfortable.   

Where should I go for my scan?

Your child will have their scan in the Nuclear Medicine Department, St Richard’s Hospital.   

Use the main entrance to the Outpatients Department. This is in the South Wing of the hospital.   

Once you are inside the Outpatients Department, turn right and take the stairs or lift to the Department of Nuclear Medicine on the first floor.  

Wheelchairs are available just inside the entrance on the ground floor.  

If you are arriving by car, please use hospital entrance number 2.    

If you need to park, use the ‘pay on foot’ car park close to the entrance to the Outpatients department (South car park). Pay at the end of your parking session using the machines in the Outpatients department entrance. Disabled parking bays are available for the registered disabled near the main Outpatients’ entrance.    

How can I prepare for a renal scan?

• Eating and drinking. Your child can eat and drink as usual before the appointment. 
• Medications.  You do not need to stop any of your child’s medication.  

Is there a chance of an allergic reaction to the radioactive injection?

Allergic reactions to the radiotracer are very rare but can happen.  

Can people have a renal scan if they are pregnant?

Before giving the radiotracer, we will check the pregnancy status of all patients, including children from the age of 12 and up. If you are accompanying your child and you are, or if you think you may be pregnant, you must tell us as soon as possible. For further information, please read our ‘Comforters and Carers’ information. 

Will my child need to undress for the scan?

No. We recommend that your child wears comfortable, loose clothing. 

What should I do if I cannot come to my appointment?

You must let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend. This is so that we can offer the appointment to someone else. 

How long will the scan take?

Both MAG3 Renograms and DMSA scans can take around 40 minutes. If your child also has an indirect micturating cystogram, this can take a further 10 minutes. This does not include the delay between their injection and the DMSA scan.    

Who will be at my scan?

A radiographer or an assistant practitioner will be with you in the room during the scan.  

There are students training in the scanning department. A qualified radiographer will supervise them if they do your scan. Please tell us if you would prefer not to have a trainee at your scan.   

Are there any risks?

We are all exposed to natural background radiation every day. This comes from the ground, building materials around us, the food we eat and from the sun.   

This scan will give you a small extra radiation dose on top of this. The amount depends on the type of scan you are having. It ranges from a few days’ natural background radiation to a few years.  

After weighing up the risks and benefits your doctor has decided that having the scan is right for you. They believe that the potential benefits outweigh the risk.   

The radiation dose for the scan is listed in the table below, along with a comparison of radiation doses from other sources of radiation.   

The only effect known at these low doses is a very small increase in the chance that you might get cancer many years or even decades after the exposure.   

The additional cancer risks from these different sources of radiation are shown in the table below.   

These risk levels are a very small addition to the 1 in 2 chance we all have of getting cancer at some point during our lifetime. 

After your appointment?

If a diuretic drug has been given to your child during the MAG3 Renogram you may notice that they need to empty their bladder more often in the following 2 hours after the scan. 

When will I get my scan results?

The results will be sent to the doctor who asked for the examination and will usually be with them within 2 weeks. If you have an appointment sooner than this then please let us know so we can make sure the results are provided in time. 

Can I bring someone else with me to my appointment?

Yes. You can bring someone, such as a friend, relative or carer with you. They must be over the age of 16 .

How is my medical data protected?

Everyone working within the NHS has a legal duty to keep patient information about you confidential & secure. If you have any concerns around the use of your medical and diagnostic imaging information, copies of the “Care Record Guarantee” and “Your Medical Data” leaflets can be downloaded from:

You can get a printed copy of these leaflets from the PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison) office at Worthing or St Richard’s, Chichester, Hospitals.  

Who can I contact if I need further information or support after I have read this information?

I need help with transport to my appointment for medical or financial reasons. What help is available?