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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Why Is One Of My Kidneys Large And Elongated?

I going through the procedure to become a kidney donor. I have had a CT scan and that showed that one of my kidneys is larger and enlongated from the other kidney. I am being sent for another test with Nuclear Medicine to determine the percentage that each kidney is working separately. What is the name of this test, and how does it work?
Mon, 5 Feb 2024
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,

The test you are talking about is probably a renal scan / renal scintigraphy or kidney scan, the test uses nuclear medicine to detect any reduced kidney function levels using blood and urine tests or an X-ray. For this, your doctor will inject a small amount of radioactive material (radioisotope or tracer) into the vein. Then you will be made to pass through a scanner, which locates the radioactive material in your kidneys and sends images to a computer.

A kidney scan helps to detect kidney diseases and injuries at an early stage. There is a little risk of redness, swelling or pain at the site of IV contact. Do contact the health care provider if the discomfort lingers. You may get an allergic reaction, though rare. You will be managed accordingly. Nuclear medicine test is an outpatient procedure and may take 30 minutes to two hours.

Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician
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Why Is One Of My Kidneys Large And Elongated?

Hello, The test you are talking about is probably a renal scan / renal scintigraphy or kidney scan, the test uses nuclear medicine to detect any reduced kidney function levels using blood and urine tests or an X-ray. For this, your doctor will inject a small amount of radioactive material (radioisotope or tracer) into the vein. Then you will be made to pass through a scanner, which locates the radioactive material in your kidneys and sends images to a computer. A kidney scan helps to detect kidney diseases and injuries at an early stage. There is a little risk of redness, swelling or pain at the site of IV contact. Do contact the health care provider if the discomfort lingers. You may get an allergic reaction, though rare. You will be managed accordingly. Nuclear medicine test is an outpatient procedure and may take 30 minutes to two hours. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician