Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the diagnosis of orbital cavernous hemangioma

Background: Cavernous hemangiomas are among the most common benign neoplasms observed in the eye socket, making up 3-7% of all pathological orbital masses. Scintigraphy using 99mTc-labeled red blood cells is the currently approved method regarding liver hemangiomas. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the application of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 99mTc-labeled RBCs is as useful in orbital hemangioma diagnostics as in evaluating liver hemangiomas. Case Report: SPECT diagnostics of the facial skeleton using 99mTc–labeled RBCs was carried out in two patients suspected of orbital hemangiomas. The erythrocytes were labeled by an in vivo method; 20 mCi (700 MBq) of 99mTc-pertechnetate was injected 20 minutes after intravenous application of pyrophosphate. SPECT of the facial skeleton with a one-head gamma camera was initiated 10 minutes after administering the radioisotope. Conclusions: SPECT with application of 99mTc-labeled RBCs might be a useful supplementary examination to US, CT, or MRI, especially with the use of fusion techniques (SPECT/MRI, SPECT/CT) in suspected orbital hemangiomas