title: Lumbar nerve root compression due to extramedullary hemopoiesis in a patient with thalassemia: complete clinical regression with radiation therapy. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: The authors describe the case of a 24-year-old woman who had a history of beta3-thalassemia and presented with severe symptoms of lumbar nerve root compression due to extramedullary hemopoiesis in the intervertebral foramen. Radiation therapy (2000 cGy in six fractions) was delivered to the mass. The patient's neurological symptoms completely resolved following treatment. Follow-up images showed a reduction in lesion size. The results of this unique case supported by a review of the literature suggest that radiation therapy alone is an effective modality in the treatment of patients with compression of neural structures due to extramedullary hemopoietic tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School of Aristotle University, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Philippos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsitsopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zevgaridis
authors.forename: Parmenion
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsitsopoulos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsonidis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marinopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006411:Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome