title: Radiotherapy and technetium-99m-labeled red blood cell scintigraphy for hemoptysis from chronic MRSA infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the application of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and technetium-99m-labeled red blood cell scintigraphy (LRBCS) in life-threatening hemoptysis from a non-malignant condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case report presents a patient with persistent hemoptysis secondary to chronic Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in whom conventional management failed to localize the site of pulmonary bleeding or to provide effective therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EBRT was successfully given for life-threatening hemoptysis with improvement in quality of life for nearly 1 year. LRBCS was used to localize the source of further bleeding and facilitate targeted therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBRT can be an effective and well-tolerated modality in treating life-threatening hemoptysis refractory to conventional methods. LRBCS is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that can be used to detect the source of pulmonary bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Locked Bag 7, Hunter Region Mail Centre, New South Wales 2310, Australia.
authors.forename: Carminia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lapuz
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Locked Bag 7, Hunter Region Mail Centre, New South Wales 2310, Australia.
authors.forename: Sandeep K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Locked Bag 7, Hunter Region Mail Centre, New South Wales 2310, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Locked Bag 7, Hunter Region Mail Centre, New South Wales 2310, Australia.
authors.forename: Colin I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Tang
keywords: Benign; Hemoptysis; MRSA pneumonia; Radiotherapy; Technetium-99m-labeled red blood cell scintigraphy