Renal artery embolism. Correlation with scintigraphic and radiographic findings

The diagnosis of renal artery embolism should be considered in patients with cardiac disease who present with abdominal or flank pain in association with deteriorating renal function. Often the diagnosis is delayed or missed owing to the nonspecific, varied, and protean clinical manifestations. A case is presented of bilateral renal artery emboli, and initial and long-term scintigraphic and radiographic correlations are provided. Renal scintigraphy should be the initial study of choice. In addition, this procedure allows for sequential noninvasive evaluation of renal function.