Thoracic Splenosis demonstrated on Heat Denatured Red Blood Cell Scintigraphy
Thoracic splenosis is rare and occurs when there is simultaneous splenic and diaphragmatic rupture
A 77 year old woman with emphysema and a past history of severe chest injuries sustained in a MVA presented with weight loss for investigation. Chest CT scans showed multiple lesions in the left lower lobe of lung.
A Heat Denatured Red Blood Cell Scan was performed to differentiate between malignancy and thoracic splenosis. Planar and SPECT-CT images of the chest and abdomen were obtained showing foci of labelled Red Blood Cells in the left lower lobe and left hilum.
The labelled Red Blood Cell scan findings confirm the presence of post-traumatic thoracic splenosis, ruling out malignancy.