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Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Use of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation to Assess the Origin of Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Published on: October 3, 2018
Extramedullary haematopoiesis in a patient with myelofibrosis
Elaina Pasangha1, Johanna Wall2, Anita Arasaretnam2
1University of Sussex/University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE, United Kingdom.
Megakaryocytes are large multilobulated precursor cells which usually reside within the bone marrow and give rise to platelets. There have been rare occurrences where they have been found in peripheral blood and extramedullary tissues in conditions where the underlying mechanisms of the bone marrow have been affected. This case report discusses an unusual presentation of a man with myelofibrosis who was found to have megakaryocytes in his ascitic fluid. We have highlighted the images showing utility of combination of traditional staining methods and immunohistochemistry in combating this diagnostic dilemma.
Megakaryocytes are large multilobulated precursor cells which usually reside within the bone marrow and give rise to platelets. There have been rare occurrences where they have been found in peripheral blood and extramedullary tissues in conditions where the underlying mechanisms of the bone marrow have been affected. This case report discusses an unusual presentation of a man with myelofibrosis who was found to have megakaryocytes in his ascitic fluid. We have highlighted the images showing utility of combination of traditional staining methods and immunohistochemistry in combating this diagnostic dilemma.
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