Detection of Intrathoracic Bleeding by 99mTc-Labeled Red Blood Cell SPECT/CT After Wedge Biopsy of Pulmonary Angiosarcoma

J Nucl Med Technol. 2016 Sep;44(3):205-6. doi: 10.2967/jnmt.116.174235. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

Abstract

A 52-y-old man presenting with dyspnea and a massive effusion in the right pleural cavity underwent wedge biopsies of pulmonary lesions found on thoracic CT, leading to a diagnosis of pleural angiosarcoma. Bleeding developed postoperatively and was investigated using pulmonary CT angiography, which failed to identify a site of active bleeding. (99m)Tc-labeled red blood cell (RBC) SPECT/CT of the chest was performed, and the site was rapidly located. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of localization of intrathoracic bleeding using (99m)Tc-RBC SPECT/CT.

Keywords: SPECT/CT; angiosarcoma; bleeding; embolization; labeled red blood cells.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Erythrocytes / metabolism*
  • Hemangiosarcoma / complications*
  • Hemorrhage / complications
  • Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography*
  • Technetium / metabolism*
  • Thorax*

Substances

  • Technetium