The Value of Tc-99m Red Blood Cell SPECT in Differentiating Giant Cavernous Hemangioma of the Liver from Other Liver Solid Masses
- 1 August 2002
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Clinical Nuclear Medicine
- Vol. 27 (8), 578-581
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00003072-200208000-00006
Abstract
Purpose Giant cavernous hemangioma (GCH) of the liver has the potential risk for rupture and bleeding, which may cause sudden death. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the value of Tc-99m–labeled red blood cell (RBC) SPECT with ultrasound (US) in differentiating GCH from other solid liver masses. Methods Twenty-two patients with giant solid liver masses, equal to or greater than 8 cm in at least one dimension, identified by US were examined by Tc-99m RBC SPECT. Final diagnoses were based on findings of surgery, biopsy or follow-up by US for a minimum of 24 months after the scan. Results In all, US detected 23 giant liver masses in 22 patients (3 men, 19 women). Eighteen GCHs were detected in 17 patients by Tc-99m RBC SPECT. Nine showed a homogeneously increased blood pool; 9 revealed peripheral high, but central low, uptake. The US patterns in these 18 GCHs were mixed-echoic in 12, hyperechoic in 4, and hypoechoic in 2. The other five large liver tumors, all proved by operation, had no increased uptake area with Tc-99m RBC SPECT. The US patterns of these were mixed-echoic in 3, hyperechoic in 1, and hypoechoic in 1. Conclusions Our study showed that there was no specific US pattern that would differentiate GCHs from other giant liver masses. Tc-99m RBC SPECT appeared to separate them clearly.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Giant cavernous hemangiomas: Diagnosis and surgical strategiesWorld Journal of Surgery, 1992
- Definitive diagnosis of hepatic hemangiomas: MR imaging versus Tc-99m-labeled red blood cell SPECT.Radiology, 1990
- Distinction between hemangioma of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma: value of labeled RBC-SPECT scanningAmerican Journal of Roentgenology, 1989
- CT of giant cavernous hemangiomaAmerican Journal of Roentgenology, 1987
- 99mTc red blood cell scintigraphy in evaluating focal liver lesionsAmerican Journal of Roentgenology, 1984
- Differentiation of focal intrahepatic lesions with 99mTc-red blood cell imaging.Radiology, 1983
- Benign Tumors of the LiverMedical Clinics of North America, 1975
- Giant Hemangiomas of the LiverAnnals of Surgery, 1970
- Spontaneous Rupture of Hemangioma of the LiverArchives of Surgery, 1961
- Hemangioma of the Liver Special Reference to Its Association with Cysts of the Liver and PancreasAmerican Journal of Clinical Pathology, 1958