[Renal function after radical nephrectomy].

For determination of indications and contraindications to radical treatment of renal cell carcinoma, it is necessary to have information about functional activity of renal parenchyma of the contralateral kidney while methods of examination predicting functional activity of postoperative renal parenchyma after radical nephrectomy are not recently available. The Russian Research Roentgenoradiology Center utilizes 99m-Tc-DMCA static scintigraphy for assessing renal parenchyma function. This radiopharmaceutical demonstrates the highest tropism for epithelium of the proximal convoluted tubules, most functionally active nephron segment. Focal lesions of the renal parenchyma cause metabolic alteration of 99m-Tc-DMCA transport through membrane of proximal tubule epithelium leading to foci of low activity of the radiopharmaceutical in pathologically affected zones. For prognosis of renal function integral catch index is used (in healthy subjects this index is at least 45 units for each kidney, lower values point to reduction of the volume of viable renal tissue). Static renal scintigraphy with determination of expected integral catch of the radiopharmaceutical is minimally invasive, significant, reproducible test for viability of renal parenchyma. The absence of significant differences in expected and actual values of the integral catch index refers static scintigraphy to methods able to prognosticate functional activity of the renal parenchyma after surgical treatment for renal carcinoma.