Prediction of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in Paediatric Patients by Deep Learning Analysis of (99m)Tc-DMSA Renal Scan

Purpose: Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid ((99m)Tc-DMSA) renal scan is an important tool for the assessment of childhood urinary tract infection (UTI), vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and renal scarring. We evaluated whether a deep learning (DL) analysis of (99m)Tc-DMSA renal scans could predict the recurrence of UTI better than conventional clinical factors. Methods: the subjects were 180 paediatric patients diagnosed with UTI, who underwent immediate post-therapeutic (99m)Tc-DMSA renal scans. The primary outcome was the recurrence of UTI during the follow-up period. For the DL analysis, a convolutional neural network (CNN) model was used. Age, sex, the presence of VUR, the presence of cortical defects on the (99m)Tc-DMSA renal scan, split renal function (SRF), and DL prediction results were used as independent factors for predicting recurrent UTI. The diagnostic accuracy for predicting recurrent UTI was statistically compared between independent factors. Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for predicting recurrent UTI were 44.4%, 88.9%, and 82.2% by the presence of VUR; 44.4%, 76.5%, and 71.7% by the presence of cortical defect; 74.1%, 80.4%, and 79.4% by SRF (optimal cut-off = 45.93%); and 70.4%, 94.8%, and 91.1% by the DL prediction results. There were no significant differences in sensitivity between all independent factors (p > 0.05, for all). The specificity and accuracy of the DL prediction results were significantly higher than those of the other factors. Conclusion: DL analysis of (99m)Tc-DMSA renal scans may be useful for predicting recurrent UTI in paediatric patients. It is an efficient supportive tool to predict poor prognosis without visually demonstrable cortical defects in (99m)Tc-DMSA renal scans.