Magnetic resonance imaging of marrow heterotopia in haemoglobinopathy

The MRI findings of masses of MH in three patients suffering from thalassaemia major, sickle-cell anaemia and thalassaemia intermedia, respectively, are presented. There was good correlation between the MRI findings and the conventional radiology or CT appearance of the masses. The masses produced a low intensity signal, similar to that of the adjacent marrow of the thoracic spine, while they were surrounded by a high-intensity signal rim attributed to a layer of fat surrounding the masses. The latter MRI finding is thought to be characteristic of MH masses.