Development of radiopharmaceuticals for PET renography

Renography is a standard clinical diagnostic test frequently used to evaluate renal function in patients with suspected renal disorders. It is conducted by dynamic planar imaging using technetium-99m renal agents. Although renography in the current form provides adequate results for certain clinical applications, the planar imaging used in renography restricts its ability in providing accurate quantitative data and detailed pathophysiologic information. These drawbacks limit the possible use of renography in the early detection and monitoring of many renal diseases. The technical limitations of renography associated with the use of planar imaging can be eliminated by using positron emission tomography (PET). In this regard, several potential PET renal agents were developed, which are all listed in this review article. PET renography could provide the potential to diagnose renal diseases early and quickly implement appropriate preventive and/or treatment strategies to improve patient care and reduce the incidence of kidney failure.