Extramedullary hematopoiesis: findings on computed tomography scans of the chest in 6 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To present findings on computed tomography scans of the chest indicative of extramedullary hematopoiesis in six patients.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed computed tomography scans of six adult patients - five males and one female - with a mean age of 36.5 years. Two radiologists independently reviewed the scans, and a consensus was reached in discrepant cases.


RESULTS
The most common finding in the scans was lower paravertebral masses with heterogeneous content (four patients). The scans of two patients showed a solitary parietal and pleural mass.


CONCLUSIONS
There are findings in computed tomography scans that are highly suggestive of extramedullary hematopoiesis, especially when those findings correlate with underlying blood diseases. Such findings, in most of the cases, allow physicians to dispense with histopathological confirmation.
Marchiori
Edson
E
Departamento de Radiologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. edmarchiori@gmail.com
Escuissato
Dante Luiz
DL
Irion
Klaus Loureiro
KL
Zanetti
Gláucia
G
Rodrigues
Rosana Souza
RS
Meirelles
Gustavo de Souza Portes
GS
Hochhegger
Bruno
B
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006411:Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult