[Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis]

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is associated with hematopoietic disorders, with intrathoracic EMH being a rare presentation. We report a case of posterior mediastinal EMH masses in 63-year-old male with congenital hemolytic anemia. Multiple paravertebral masses with dense soft parts and well defined borders, but without accompanying calcification or bone erosion were identified on a chest computed tomography (CT) scan during an examination for another disease. A left-posterior mediastinal mass was resected using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Post-operative pathological examination showed that the tumor was covered completely by a capsule, and composed of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic tissue including erythroblasts and myeloid cells. Based on these findings we diagnosed intrathoracic EMH.