Clinical Scorecard: Noninvasive Identification of Splenosis Through Tc-99m Scintigraphy with Heat-Denatured Red Blood Cells

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Patient with hereditary spherocytosis and history of splenectomy.

• Differential diagnosis included splenosis and lymphoma.

• SPECT/CT confirmed splenosis through tracer accumulation.

• Noninvasive method reduces risk of hemorrhage from biopsy.

• Detection of Howell–Jolly bodies and thrombocytosis does not exclude splenosis.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Use selective splenic scintigraphy with Tc-99m-labeled heat-damaged red blood cells.

Management

• Consider noninvasive imaging to avoid biopsy risks.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Monitor for Howell–Jolly bodies and thrombocytosis in post-splenectomy patients.

Risks

• Percutaneous biopsy poses a hemorrhagic risk.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients with splenectomy and suspected splenosis.

Noninvasive imaging can confirm diagnosis without invasive procedures.

Clinical Best Practices

• Utilize SPECT/CT for accurate diagnosis of splenosis.

• Evaluate blood parameters in the context of splenectomy history.

Related Resources & Content

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4. EJNMMI Reports, 2026 -- Thoracic splenosis: a great mimic diagnosed by functional imaging

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7. A rare right hemithorax splenosis: Case of thoracic and abdominal splenosis - PMC

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