Haematologica, Vol 92, Issue 3, e28-e30 doi:10.3324/haematol.10199
Copyright © 2007 by Ferrata Storti Foundation
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Online Only Articles

Paraplegia due to extramedullary hematopoiesis in thalassemia treated successfully with radiation therapy

M. Malik1,, L.S. Pillai2, N. Gogia3, T. Puri1, M. Mahapatra2, D.N. Sharma1, R. Kumar2

1 Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
2 Department of Hematology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
3 Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India

*Corresponding author: Monica Malik, Department of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India. Tel: 91- 9811335455, Email: dr_monica_malik{at}hotmail.com

Spinal cord compression due to extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a rare complication of thalassemia and generally presents as paraparesis with sensory impairment. Complete paraplegia is extremely rare in EMH due to thalassemia although it is known to occur in polycythemia vera and sickle cell anemia. Treatment options mostly include surgery and/or radiotherapy. Whereas cases presenting with paraparesis have been treated with either surgery or radiotherapy with equal frequency and efficacy, almost all reported cases with paraplegia have been treated with surgery with or without radiation therapy. We hereby report a case of thalassemia intermedia with paraplegia treated successfully with radiotherapy.

Key words: Thalassemia, Paraplegia, Extramedullary hematopoiesis.




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