Massive hemothorax due to intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis in a patient with hereditary spherocytosis.
Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a rare disorder, characterized by the appearance of hematopoietic elements outside of the bone marrow, which occurs in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders or congenital hemolytic anemias. We report on a 64-year-old man with hereditary spherocytosis, who presented with anemia, jaundice, intrathoracic EMH, and massive hemothorax. The diagnosis of EMH was established after computer tomography (CT)-guided punctuation of the paravertebral mass. The patient underwent splenectomy and thoracic drainage. After 1 year, the patient is in good health, with normal hemoglobin values, and hemothorax has not recurred.
Second Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Evangelismos Hospital, University of Athens, Greece. nxiros@otenet.gr
N
N
Xiros
T
T
Economopoulos
E
E
Papageorgiou
G
G
Mantzios
S
S
Raptis
D006411:Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary / Q000502:physiology; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013103:Spherocytosis, Hereditary / Q000150:complications*; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology