Tc-99m labeled red blood cells scintigraphy: a diagnostic method for orbital cavernous hemangioma

Purpose. To evaluate Tc-99m labeled red blood cells scintigraphy (Tc-99m RB C scintigraphy) as a diagnostic method for orbital cavernous hemangioma. Pa tients and Methods. Retrospective analysis of the medical records of all patients who were diagnosed as suffering from orbital cavernous hemangioma over the last 16 years. Results. Medical records of 12 patients with orbital cavernous hemangioma w ere identified. In all twelve patients, the tentative diagnosis of orbital cavernous hemangioma was made by CT scan. In all of them, the diagnosis was established by Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy, demonstrating a typical picture of "perfusion blood-pool mismatch" (This is normal radionuclide angiography, folio wed by a variable radionuclide up take during the early blood-pool st udy and an intensive radionuclide uptake during the delayed blood-pool stud y). The tumor was surgically removed in all 12 patients. This diagnostic me thod was found to be reliable as no single case was recorded in which the p reoperative diagnosis was not confirmed pathologically after surgical remov al of the tumor. Conclusions. Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy is a reliable method for diagnosing or bital cavernous hemangioma. It should be included in our arsenal of diagnos tic techniques, particularly for cases which are otherwise difficult to dia gnose.