A case of metastatic malignancy masquerading as a hepatic hemangioma on labeled red blood cell scintigraphy

J Nucl Med. 1993 Jul;34(7):1172-4.

Abstract

A 36-yr-old woman with a past history of gastric neuro-endocrine carcinoma (carcinoid tumor) underwent 99mTc-red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy for evaluation of a 2-cm echogenic liver mass demonstrated on ultrasound. Scan findings were typical of a cavernous hemangioma. On follow-up, however, there was progressive lesion enlargement; histopathology of the resected mass revealed neuro-endocrine carcinoma. This case report, one of the few examples of a false-positive 99mTc-RBC scan, highlights the need for cautious evaluation of focal liver masses, even when there are typical scintigraphic features of cavernous hemangioma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoid Tumor / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinoid Tumor / secondary*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Erythrocytes
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Hemangioma, Cavernous / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Technetium
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Technetium