Paediatric DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid) Kidney Scan

This patient information is for parents and carers of children having a DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid) Kidney Scan. It aims to tell you and your child what a DMSA Kidney Scan is and what will happen.

Your DMSA Kidney Scan explained – PaediatricTo view a PDF you may need to download Adobe Reader.

General information

A doctor has asked that we take some pictures of your child’s kidneys. The complete study will take about 5 hours.

If the appointment clashes with another outpatient appointment or test, or you are unable to attend on this day, please contact this department as soon as possible.  We can then reschedule the test and assign the appointment to another patient.

As the test involves small amounts of radiation, we ask that you and your child are not accompanied by another child under 18 or anyone who may be pregnant.

If your child has mobility issues, is incontinent (unless in nappies) or claustrophobic please contact the department on the number provided.

Benefit and risks of the test

Everyone receives some radiation every day from the radioactivity in the air, food we eat and even from space.  The amount of radiation in a nuclear medicine test is similar to your child’s natural exposure over one year so the risks associated with it are low.

The main benefit of the test is making the correct diagnosis, so your child can get the treatment that is right for them.  This benefit is far greater than the small risk from radiation.

Preparation

If your child has had a urinary tract infection in the three months prior to the test, please let us know as soon as possible as the accuracy of the test may be affected.

There is no special preparation required for this test.  Your child can eat and drink as normal.  Please bring with you a list of any medication that your child is taking (their repeat prescription sheet if possible).

What does the test involve?

There are 3 parts to this test.

Part 1

Please arrive 1 hour before your appointment time so that necessary preparation can be completed. Your child will be taken to Safari ward so that a cannula can be inserted into one of the veins in their hands or arms. Anaesthetic cream can be applied before insertion to make the experience less traumatic.

Part 2

Once this is complete, please return to the nuclear medicine department. Your child will then be given a small injection of a radioactive tracer into the cannula.  There should be no ill effects from the injection.  A 3-hour delay is then necessary to allow time for the injection to get to your child’s kidneys. During this time you will be free to leave the hospital if you wish. Your child can eat and drink normally during this time.

Part 3

A number of pictures are then taken with a Gamma Camera (see photo).  To avoid any blurring of the pictures it is necessary for your child to lie as still as possible for about 45 minutes. The members of staff who take the pictures are very experienced at dealing with children and understand that it can be hard for young children to lie still. Once completed, you are then free to leave the department.

After the test

For the rest of the day, your child must take extra care to wash their hands thoroughly after toilet use, sit down when using the toilet and flush the toilet twice. Please also take extra care when changing nappies.

Your child should continue to drink extra fluids and empty their bladder frequently. This will improve the clearance of the radiation from their body.

When the test is completed, the images will be reviewed and a report will be available to the doctor who has requested the test.

The camera

The Gamma Camera that takes the pictures has an open design and the majority of patients complete the test without any discomfort.

Radiation information

If you would like to find out more about medical radiation, please access the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-radiation-uses-dose-measurements-and-safety-advice

Contact details

Department of Nuclear Medicine

Lincoln County Hospital     01522 573103