Abstract

Chest radiograph of a 20-year old male, previously diagnosed as thalasemia intermedia, revealed bilateral, well-defined lobulated masses situated in the posterior mediastinum between the second and the tenth vertebrae. These thoracic masses were evaluated as extramedullary hematopoiesis both; radiographically and clinically. Control chest x-ray, after 18 months, revealed no difference the first findings. The patient was asymptomatic. The presence of well-defined, lobuiated unilateral or bilateral paravertebral masses in patients with chronic anemia like thalassemias, should alert the physician about the possibility of extramedullary hematopoieses. As long as the patient is asymptomatic, no treatment is necessary.