99mTc-Labeled RBC Scan in a Patient with Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome: A Case Report

• Published in: Nuclear medicine and molecular imaging Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 115 - 118
• Main Authors: Lee, Soo Jin, Lee, Ho-Young, Jung, Kyuwhan, Kim, Sang Eun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.06.2013; 대한핵의학회
• Subjects: Cardiology; Case Report; Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nuclear Medicine; Oncology; Orthopedics; Radiology; 방사선과학; Venous malformation; Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome; Chronic anemia; Tc-labeled red blood cell scan
• ISSN: 1869-3474; 1869-3482
• DOI: 10.1007/s13139-013-0199-3

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare disorder characterized by cutaneous and gastrointestinal vascular malformations. We report here the case of a 13-year-old patient with BRBNS who was suffering from chronic anemia. His chief complaint was melena. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography showed multiple hemangiomas in the small bowel. 99m Tc-labeled red blood cell (RBC) scan identified the bleeding sites in the small bowel. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with segmental resection and multiple wedge resection of the small bowel. The pathological results confirmed the multiple cavernous hemangiomas. This case confirms the critical role of the 99m Tc-labeled RBC scan in localizing the bleeding sites in patients with BRBNS.