Extrarenal abnormalities in Tc-99m-DTPA renal blood flow studies.

We observed extrarenal abnormalities during renal flow scintigraphy and retrospectively reviewed 90 patient studies to determine the types and frequencies of such abnormal findings. For each routine Tc-99m-DTPA renal flow study, we obtained nine 2-second sequential images, which included the heart, abdominal aorta, spleen and kidneys. Eighty abnormalities, observed in 62 patients, were divided into three categories: aortic, 37 cases (aneurysms, ectasia, thrombosis, tortuosity, and abruptly decreased flow); splenic, 40 cases (enlarged, small, or absent spleen); and miscellaneous, 3 cases (hepatic arterialization and very slow circulation). Other correlative studies including Tc-99m sulfur colloid-spleen scintigraphy, ultrasonography (US), CT, aortography, and surgical and/or autopsy findings were available for corroboration in 56 of 80 lesions.