title: Improved detection of small cavernous hemangiomas of the liver with high-resolution three-headed SPECT.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to review our experience with 99mTc-red blood cell scintigraphy for diagnosis of cavernous hemangiomas of the liver using a new three-headed, high-resolution dedicated SPECT system. Of 19 patients referred with a total of 38 lesions seen on CT, US, or MRI, 14 patients had 24 lesions that were hemangioma-positive with SPECT (all true-positives). Six of these 14 patients also had 9 hemangioma-negative lesions; all were less than or equal to 1.3 cm in size and false-negative. The remaining five patients had hemangioma-negative lesions only (1 false-negative, 4 true-negatives). Two hemangiomas were seen by SPECT that were not detected by CT, US, or MR. The sensitivity for hemangiomas greater than or equal to 1.4 cm. was 100% (20/20). The sensitivity was 33% for lesions 0.9-1.3 cm, and 20% for lesions less than or equal to 0.8 cm. The smallest hemangioma detected was 0.5 cm. These results show a definite improvement in sensitivity with high-resolution triple-headed SPECT over previously reported results using single-headed SPECT. High-resolution SPECT has improved our ability to detect small cavernous hemangiomas of the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ziessman
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harkness
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Zeman
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Keyes
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m