Comparison of Imaging Techniques in Detecting Renal Scars in Children with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Abstract Introduction Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a frequent and important cause of fever, bacteremia, sepsis, and organ failure inchildren under two years of age. Severe infections that cause mortality and morbidity in recurrent urinary tract infections, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment for the prevention of acute and chronic renal insufficiency should be well known. Methods: Between January 2005 and January 2010, a total of 101patients with recurrent urinary tract infection were evaluated retrospectively in the pediatric nephrology clinic of ourinstitution. Patient data were obtained retrospectively fromcharts in the hospital archives. The age, gender, demographics, physical examination findings, laboratory results, andimaging data were recorded. Results In a total of 101 cases, 78.2% of them were female, and21.8% of them were males. Renal parenchymal damage wasdetected in 23.8% of the cases using ultrasonography(USG), vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was detected in 38.6%of the cases using voiding cystourethrography (VCUG),andrenal scars and activity loss was detected in 70.3% of thecases using Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)scintigraphy. Conclusion It was determined that, as the incidence and the degreeof VUR increase, the frequency of renal scar increases; andthere is a positive correlation between VUR and renal scars.In addition, renal scintigraphy was the most sensitive ima-ging method in cases of recurrent urinary tract infections