Renal scintigraphy with technetium Tc 99m succimer: clinical utility in newborns with cystic renal dysplasia.

We have presented the case of a neonate with bilateral cystic renal dysplasia and normal pulmonary development, in whom technetium Tc 99m succimer scintigraphy demonstrated absence of normal renal cortical tubular tissue and correctly predicted that life-sustaining renal function would not occur. Since renal uptake of this radioactive agent depends on the functional mass of cortical tubular tissue, and the cystic dysplasias are characterized by abnormal dysplastic renal ductal and tubular tissue, this imaging agent can provide important prognostic information concerning renal function in these patients.