From the Guidelines
Yes, a person with a solitary kidney can generally undergo a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, as a single healthy kidney can adequately handle the tracer elimination, but it is crucial for patients to inform their healthcare provider about their condition before the scan. PET scans use radioactive tracers that are processed and eliminated primarily through the urinary system. Having one kidney instead of two doesn't typically prevent someone from having a PET scan. However, the medical team may adjust hydration protocols or take extra precautions to protect kidney function, such as recommending increased water intake before and after the procedure to help flush the radioactive tracer from the body more efficiently 1.
Considerations for Patients with Solitary Kidney
- Patients with a solitary kidney should inform their healthcare provider about their condition before undergoing a PET scan.
- The decision to undergo a PET scan depends on the individual's overall kidney function rather than simply the number of kidneys present.
- In cases where the remaining kidney has significantly reduced function, alternative imaging techniques or modified PET scan protocols might be considered.
- Proper hydration is essential to prevent urinary activity from causing problems in image interpretation, especially for abdominal/pelvic tumors 1.
- For patients with risk factors for contrast agent-induced nephropathy, such as preexisting renal insufficiency or diabetes mellitus, precautions should be taken, including assessing renal function before contrast agent administration and considering the discontinuation of metformin if necessary 1.
Recent Guidelines and Recommendations
The most recent guidelines, such as those from 2024, emphasize the importance of proper PET/CT acquisition techniques, including patient positioning and the use of extended field of view (FOV) for both CT and PET components, to minimize artifacts and ensure accurate imaging 1. These guidelines also highlight the need for adequate hydration and consideration of kidney function when deciding on the use of contrast agents in PET/CT scans. Ultimately, the ability of a person with a solitary kidney to undergo a PET scan safely depends on their overall health, kidney function, and the specific protocols and precautions taken by the healthcare team.
From the Research
PET Scan Overview
- A PET scan is a medical imaging technique that can be used to evaluate patients with kidney disease 2.
- It can be combined with computed tomography (CT) scan to provide additional imaging advantages 2.
Kidney Function and PET Scans
- Patients with underlying kidney disease, including those with a solitary kidney, can undergo PET scans 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, the functionality of the solitary kidney may affect the PET scan results, and certain radiotracers may be more suitable for evaluating kidney function 3, 4, 5.
- Some studies have investigated the use of novel PET radiotracers, such as [18F]FDS and [68Ga]EDTA, for assessing glomerular filtration rate and kidney function 3, 5.
Safety and Considerations
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that having a solitary kidney is a contraindication for a PET scan 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, patients with impaired kidney function may require special consideration and monitoring during the PET scan procedure 4, 6.
- The choice of radiotracer and imaging protocol may need to be tailored to the individual patient's kidney function and medical history 3, 4, 5.