TC-99m-labeled red blood cell scintigraphy in the investigation of patients with hepatic cavernous hemangioma

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 99m Tc-red blood cell scintigraphy in the diagnosis of hepatic cavernous hemangiomas. Patients and Methods: Sixty three patients, 56 females (89%) and 7 males (1 I%), with ages between 22 and 54 years (median 33 years) were investigated for liver masses found on ultrasonography of the abdomen. All the patients had undergone 99m Tc-liver-spleen scan followed by 99m Tc-red blood cells scintigraphy. The size of the lesions ranged between 3 and 9 cm. The final diagnosis was reached through cytology, and/or histopathology or follow up for more than 3 years. Results: A total of 70 lesions were found as a single lesion in 60 patients and multiple (i.e. total of 10 lesions) in the other 3 patients. The results of 99m Tc-red blood cells scintigraphy, compared to the results of the final diagnosis, showed sensitivity and specificity rates of 100% and 89% respectively, positive and negative predictive values of 98% and 100% repectively, and accuracy rate of 98.6%. A single false positive case was a hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: 99m Tc- red blood cell scintigraphy is highly accurate in the diagnosis of liver cavernous hemangioma and should characterize liver mass found on ultrasonography and suspected for hemangioma.