European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 8 , Pages 596-597, December 2005

Extramedullary hematopoiesis with spinal cord compression in β-thalassemia intermedia

  • Massoud Saghafi

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor of Rheumatology.
    • ,
  • Abbas Shirdel

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor of Hematology.
    • ,
  • Shahrzad M. Lari

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. # 115, 31 Abouzar Ave, Ahmad-Abad St. 91768-43934, Mashhad, Iran. Tel.: +98 511 8403818; fax: +98 511 8429979.
    • Resident of Internal Medicine.

Department of Rheumatology and Department of Hematology, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Received 7 October 2004; received in revised form 4 April 2005; accepted 4 April 2005.

Abstract 

Spinal cord compression due to extramedullary hematopoiesis is a rare manifestation of thalassemia. We present a 28-year-old woman with β-thalassemia intermedia and progressive paraparesis. She had a thoracic extradural extramedullary mass lesion on MRI. She improved after receiving multiple transfusions. Clinical awareness of this phenomenon with early treatment is essential for a successful outcome.

Keywords: Thalassemia, Extramedullary hematopoiesis, Paraparesis

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PII: S0953-6205(05)00279-7

doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2005.04.010

European Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 8 , Pages 596-597, December 2005

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