Effect of hypertransfusion on extramedullary hematopoietic compression mass in thalassemia major: a case report

Hereby we report a patient with thalassemia major having extradural cord compression at T3-T9 levels due to a mass of extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) tissue, whose treatment was successful with hypertransfusion therapy alone. The patient was a 23-year-old man who had not received regular blood transfusion since two years before admission. He suffered from paraparesis with a history of progressive lower limb weakness for 2 months. MRI of the spinal cord demonstrated thoracic extramedullary hematopoietic mass causing spinal cord compression. The patient demonstrated a significant response to hypertransfusion and improvement in the neurologic status started a few days after treatment. Almost complete resolution of the mass was seen in spinal MRI one week after hypertransfusion. Hypertransfusion seems to be a useful method for treatment of spinal cord compression due to a hematopoietic mass. It may be used as the first line therapy.