Masses of myeloadipose tissue: radiological and clinical considerations

The records of 30 patients presenting radiological evidence of masses of extramedullary myeloadipose (hemopoietic) tissue, 25 patients suffering from thalassemia, one from sickle-cell anemia, and one from myelofibrosis were studied. Three patients presented with primary myelolipomas. Most of the patients with thalassemia presented with masses of hemopoiesis in the costovertebral angle and five patients presented with spinal cord compression. Magnetic resonance imaging is the best method for visualization and assessment of the extent of the masses in the thorax and spinal canal. Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for spinal cord compression. One patient with thalassemia and one patient with myelofibrosis presented with masses of extramedullary hemopoiesis in the adrenals. All five patients with masses of myeloadipose tissue in the adrenals were treated surgically.