[Renal function study by 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy in each treatment of staghorn calculi]

From 1976 through 1984, 94 staghorn calculi of 86 patients were treated in this department. Kidney function was assessed by Tc-DMSA renal scintigraphy consisting of renal cortical imaging and DMSA renal uptake rate, in 84 kidneys preoperatively and 43 kidneys pre- and postoperatively. There was an increase in the postoperative DMSA renal uptake in the operated kidney, in 3 out of 14 kidneys in which pyelolithotomy was performed and in one out of 10 kidneys in which nephrolithotomy was done. It was still impossible to answer the question of which mode of operation should be chosen only from consideration of kidney function study. But it was suggested by the statistical investigation that nephrectomy seemed to be selected in the case of severely decreased renal function. It was reasonable that pyelolithotomy was the best method from the point of predicting the postoperative recovery of renal function. But in the near future, advances in endoscopical stone surgery and extracorporeal procedures, might reduce the damage of the renal function caused by conventional stone surgery.