Renal scintigraphy using 99mTc DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) is a widely used method for detection of parenchymal changes. It is considered the „gold standard“ in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis. The mechanism of cortical fixation of the radiopharmaceutical preparation enables to image the functional renal tissue scintigraphically. Two hours after i.v. administration approxi- mately 40 - 50 % of the injected amount of the radiopharmaceutical is found in the cortex. Healthy cortical renal tissue is scintigraphically vizualized as homogeneously distributed radioactivity. Reduction or a defect of activity is considered a pathological finding. Kidneys can be visualized by two techniques based on the use of a scintillation camera for planar or for tomographic imaging based on SPECT. The aim of this study is the correlation of routine planar scintigraphy and SPECT of the kidneys in detection of parenchymal changes in children. 191 children (81 boys, 110 girls), aged from 1 month to 15 years, with suspected renal disease or confirmed diagnosis of renal pathology were examined. Results: 1. The findings of planar scintigraphy correlated in the majority with that of SPECT, which determines better the extent and the localization of pathological focus. 2. We prefer based on our experience planar scintigraphy in children up to 3 years or both these methods. 3. We recommend routine SPECT examination in older children.

        Key words: 99mTc DMSA planar renal scintigraphy - single photon emission tomography of the