Accumulation of 99mTc-DTPA in neurofibroma of Recklinghausen disease

The ability of scanning with Tc-99m DTPA to detect neurofibroma in Rechlinghausen's disease was evaluated in 8 patients with confirmed neurofibroma, whose ages ranged from 10 to 58 years. They were scanned 2 hours after i.v. injection of Tc-99m DTPA (20 mCi for adults and 10 mCi for children). Tc-99m DTPA was taken up by plexiform neurofibroma in 5 patients and by pachydermatocele in 4 patients. The uptake in plexiform neurofibroma was noticeable. In one patient who had systemic multiple epidermal neurofibromas, uptake of Tc-99m DTPA was not observed. Tc-99m DTPA scanning is considered to be an extremely useful technique in localizing masses in the chest and abdomen of patients with Rechlinghausen's disease. (N.K.)