Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now recognized as a worldwide public health challenge, and the incidence rate and hospitalization rate have significantly increased in recent years. Without prompt diagnoses and effective treatment in the early renal function damage of CKD, the symptoms will continue to worsen and eventually develop into end-stage renal disease. Functional imaging techniques such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), computerized tomography perfusion (CTP), and magnetic resonance perfusion weighted imaging (MR-PWI) could be used to quantitatively analyze renal perfusion and renal filtration function. Their diagnostic values are increasingly evident and have become the research hotspot in evaluating renal function. The aim of this review is to briefly evaluate the research and application advances in the early renal function damage assessment of CKD, so as to raise the efficiency of clinical applications.
