Open AccessThoracic cord compression by extramedullary hematopoiesis in thalassemia
Author(s) -
MA Hashmi,
Suparna Guha,
Partha Pratim Sengupta,
Debasis Basu,
Shyam Baboo,
. Neha
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
asian journal of neurosurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2248-9614
DOI - 10.4103/1793-5482.136726
Subject(s) - extramedullary hematopoiesis , medicine , spinal cord compression , magnetic resonance imaging , osteosclerosis , spinal cord , spinal canal , pathological , soft tissue , anatomy , pathology , haematopoiesis , thalassemia , radiology , stem cell , genetics , psychiatry , biology
Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) refers to hematopoiesis occurring outside the medulla of bone. It may be physiologic or due to pathological conditions like hematopoietic disorders. EMH can involve liver, spleen, thorax, and lymph nodes. It can involve paraspinal tissues with extension and involvement of spinal canal. In our case, the diagnosis was confirmed by the history of the patient stating underlying hematological condition and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings showing large soft tissue masses in paraspinal areas with involvement of spinal canal and leading to cord compression.