What is the role of gallium scanning in the diagnosis of Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis?
The presence of an active interstitial inflammatory infiltrate in ATIN leads to a diffuse, intense kidney uptake of the gallium67 radioisotope.
This finding is nonspecific and can be seen in many causes of AKI.
Note that acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is characterized by decreased uptake of gallium67, thus the gallium scan may be useful in distinguishing ATIN from ATN.