Massive hemothorax due to intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis in a patient with thalassemia intermedia

Abstract

We report the case of a 49-year-old woman with thalassemia intermedia who developed a massive hemothorax due to hemorrhage from a large intrathoracic, paraspinal hematopoietic mass. Thoracotomy was required for initial control of bleeding. Postoperatively she received a total of 1,500 rads to the mass and has not had recurrence of the hemothorax. This complication of extramedullary hematopoiesis has not been previously reported, to our knowledge.