Abdominal lymphography in thalassaemia major

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Thalassaemia major is a severe chronic anemia.
• Lymphatic system involvement in thalassaemia major is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the abdominal lymphography findings in patients with thalassaemia major.
• To correlate lymphographic findings with lymph node histology.

Main Methods:

• Abdominal lymphography was performed in seven patients with thalassaemia major.
• Lymph node biopsies from therapeutic splenectomy were examined microscopically.

Main Results:

• Abnormal lymphatic channel course was rare (1/7 patients).
• Nodal filling defects were consistently observed in para-aortic and iliac lymph nodes.
• Microscopic examination showed haemosiderin deposition and extramedullary erythropoiesis in lymph nodes.

Conclusions:

• Abdominal lymphography can reveal characteristic nodal abnormalities in thalassaemia major.
• Lymph node changes in thalassaemia major include iron deposition and extramedullary hematopoiesis.