CT imaging is usually not recommended for renal insufficiency with left renal atrophy and low glomerular filtration rate, and MRI is not recommended for glomerular filtration rate less than 30 ml/min.
Left renal atrophy and low glomerular filtration rate are usually manifestations of renal insufficiency, which has an impact on the choice of imaging modality.
For example, pyelography is a method of injecting a contrast medium into the renal pelvis and then examining the renal pelvis, ureter, and other organs of the urinary system by X-ray. There is a downstream pyelogram, a retrograde pyelogram, and a fistula pyelogram, all of which require the injection of a certain dose of contrast medium into the kidneys, which is then imaged through X-rays.
Para-pyelogram requires normal renal function, and this method may cause some damage to renal function after the test.
The advantage of retrograde pyelography is that it does not require kidney function and does not cause excessive damage to the kidneys. However, it needs to be intubated through the urethra and bladder, which will cause some pain during intubation and may also lead to retrograde infection and hematuria.
Fistula pyelogram requires a kidney puncture with a catheter inserted into the kidney so that the contrast medium can be injected directly and then X-rayed.
Moreover, for patients with renal insufficiency, the contrast agent may increase the burden on the kidneys, resulting in its inability to be metabolized and excreted in a timely manner, which has a great deal of side effects on the human body and may lead to the deterioration of the original condition in severe cases.
If patients with atrophy of the left kidney and low glomerular filtration rate need to undergo contrast examination, it is recommended to go to regular hospitals for consultation, so that professional doctors can prescribe and evaluate the examination results.