Failure to lie motionless during the scan. Recent tests involving dye or other foreign substances may affect the accuracy of the test images. The radiologist reads the series of cross-sectional views of the kidney to see exactly where abnormalities lie. It provides a high-resolution image of kidney structure and anatomy. The test involves some, although relatively minimal, radiation as well as the injection of radiopaque contrast dye.
Some people find the scanner tube claustrophobic.
The next step Some blockages or other kidney abnormalities can be explained or diagnosed on the basis of the scan. Other visible masses may require additional tests, such as a biopsy or angiography, to determine their cause. Published under license from Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.