An evaluation of the use of 99Tcm-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) as a static renal imaging agent.

The clinical value of 99Tcm-dimercaptosuccinic acid, utilized as a static renal imaging agent, has been analysed in 366 patients. It proved to be diagnostically most useful in space occupying lesions of the kidney when equivocal on IVU and provided useful additional information when used in the determination of divided renal function or the distribution of intrarenal function. Its use is contraindicated in the determination of divided renal function in obstructed kidneys because of accumulation of significant amounts of DMSA that are excreted by glomerular filtration. When DMSA uptake at three hours after injection is compared with 99Tcm-DPTA uptake from 90 to 150 seconds after bolus injection, there is a good correlation between the two methods of determination of divided renal function.