Abdominal lymphography in thalassaemia major

The appearances are described of abdominal lymphography in seven patients with thalassaemia major. All were severely and chronically anaemic. An abnormal course of lymphatic channels was seen in only one case. Nodal filling defects were found in all patients, lying centrally and peripherally, in para-aortic and iliac glands. The findings correlate well with the microscopic features of lymph nodes removed at therapeutic splenectomy. These show haemosiderin deposition and foci of extramedullary erythropoeisis.