Q: My 8 years old body's left kidney is only 28 percent functional and the right one is 71 percent functional. The doctor has asked us to go for surgery. On what basis have the doctors recommended surgery for my son?

A:Diethylene Triamine Penta-acetic acid or DTPA scan reveals the degree of individual kidney function as well as any obstruction that could be corrected. In follow up studies, it is done to look for any improvement in the kidney function following surgery as well any residual or new obstruction. Many times this information is useful to physician's to decide about various treatment options.