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How good is technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine indirect cystography?

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to estimate the sensitivity of indirect radionuclide cystography (IRC) performed with technetium-99m mercaptoacetyl-triglycine (MAG3), in comparison with the micturition cystourethrography (MCUG) and direct radionuclide cystography (DRC), for the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux. Two groups of patients were selected: group I comprised 40 children who underwent IRC during the acute phase of urinary tract infection and an MCUG 6 weeks later; group II comprised 42 (other) children with known reflux, who underwent IRC and DRC during follow-up. Taking as the reference the total number of refluxing kidneys detected by means of any cystographic technique, 99mTc-MAG3 ICR missed two-thirds of the refluxing kidneys. Most of the small refluxes were missed, but so too were 50% of the major refluxes. Taking as the reference 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy, MCUG detected 91 % of the patients with DMSA abnormalities on at least one kidney, DRC detected 95%, and IRC detected 46% and 43% respectively, in groups I and II. The use of 99mTc-MAG3 IRC as the sole technique for the detection of vesicoureteric reflux gives rise to an unacceptable number of false-negative results.

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Correspondence to: C. De Sadeleer

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De Sadeleer, C., De Boe, V., Keuppens, F. et al. How good is technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine indirect cystography?. Eur J Nucl Med 21, 223–227 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00188670

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00188670

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