Abstract
Intrathoracic extramedullary erythropoiesis (EME) is a rare but well-known complication of β-thalassemia intermedia. Patients with intrathoracic EME are generally asymptomatic. Herein, we report an adult patient with β-thalassemia intermedia who was diagnosed to have intrathoracic EME masses and presented with hemoptysis. Upto our knowledge, hemoptysis has not been reported previously as a presentational complaint among patients with β-thalassemia who have thoracal EME masses. Initiation of chronic transfusion programme and hydroxurea treatment caused regression in the masses, in addition to disappearance of the complaint of hemoptysis. Hemoptysis should be kept in mind as a rare finding of of EME in β-thalassemia intermedia.
Keywords:
Beta thalassemia intermedia
,
extramedullary erythropoiesis
,
hemopthysis