Diagnostic value of Tc-99m-labeled red blood cell SPET for a solitary solid liver mass in HBV carrier patients with different echogenicities

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of t echnetium-99m labeled red blood cell Liver single photon emission computed tomography (RBC liver SPET) in evaluating the diagnostic ability for differ entiating the nature of a solitary liver tumor detected with ultrasonograph y in hepatitis B carrier patients. Methodology: One hundred and one hepatitis B carrier patients (56 males, 45 females, aged 13-70 years) with a solitary solid liver mass found on ultra sonography were included in this study. The final diagnosis was made after liver biopsy, aspiration with cytology and/or autopsy in 27 patients and af ter follow-up with both clinical and ultrasonography findings in 74 patient s. Results: Hemangioma was found in 79 patients, hepatocellular carcinoma in 1 4, focal nodular hyperplasia in 5, fatty liver in 2, and metastasis in 1. T he diagnostic sensitivity of RBC liver SPET for hemangioma, with a hyperech oic, hypoechoic, or isoechoic ultrasonography pattern, was between 75-80%, while the specificity for all patterns was 100%. For mixed-echoic lesions, the sensitivity was 100%, but the specificity was only 50%. Two false-posit ives were noted; both were mixed-echoic lesions. Conclusions: RBC liver SPET is useful for differentiating hemangioma from o ther liver tumors in hepatitis B carrier patients with a various sonographi c patterns, especially for those who had a mixed-echoic sonographic liver m ass.