P 109 Cryoextraction of orbital hemangiomas diagnosed by Tc-99m-labeled red blood cells

Cavernous hemngiomas are the most frequent tumor in the orbit in adults. Static scintigraphy with To-99m-labeled red blood cells enables visualization of the increased blood volume of such lesions. Blood-pool imaging clearly demonstrates the lesions. The "perfusion" vascularity mismatch" is typical of hemangiomas, reflecting the low regional blood flow and large volume of the lesion. Cryoextraction of orbital tumors has been suggested by several authors, but criticized by others as not being suitable for all tumors and particularly for malignant ones. Fourteen patients with cavernous hemangiomas of the orbit, in whom diagnosis was highly suspected by means of computerized toiogkaphy; underwkt Tc-99n-lab&led red blood cell scintiqraphv, which confirmed the diaqnosis. All cases were operated, using a transconjunctival cryosurgical approach, with no complications. In all cases, the diagnosis of a cavernous hemangioma was confirmed by histology. We find Tc-99m-labeled red blood cell scintigraphy to be a highly accurate tool for the diagnosis of orbital hemangiomas and cryoextraction to be the most suitable operation in those cases.