DMSA scan

DMSA scan

A DMSA scan (pronounced: dee-em-es-ay scan), also known as Dimercaptosuccinic acid scan, is a type of nuclear medicine imaging test that provides detailed images of the kidneys.

Etymology

The term DMSA is an acronym derived from the chemical compound Dimercaptosuccinic acid, which is used as a radioactive tracer in this scan.

Procedure

During a DMSA scan, a small amount of a radioactive substance called a tracer (in this case, DMSA) is injected into the patient's bloodstream. The tracer travels through the bloodstream and is absorbed by the kidneys. A special camera called a gamma camera is then used to take images of the kidneys, which can show any abnormalities or damage.

Uses

A DMSA scan is often used to diagnose and monitor conditions that affect the kidneys, such as kidney infections, kidney stones, and kidney damage. It can also be used to assess the size, position, shape, and function of the kidneys.

Related Terms

• Nuclear medicine
• Kidney
• Gamma camera
• Kidney infections
• Kidney stones
• Kidney damage

See Also

• Renal scintigraphy
• Renal ultrasound
• Computed tomography

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on DMSA scan
• Wikipedia's article - DMSA scan

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski