Parietal Abcess Revealing Several Foci of Extramedullary Hematopoiesis: A Case Report

Abstract

In children, Extra Medullary Hematopoiesis (EMH) is a compensatory response to severe chronic anemia, particularly in the context of B thalassemia. Its localization, variable, is mainly hepatic, splenic and ganglionic but all the other organs, including the skin, can be reached. Rare, most often asymptomatic, EMH can be manifested by a mass syndrome. The anamnesis and the imaging bring arguments in favor of the diagnosis, sometimes difficult to establish, without resorting to invasive examinations. Thanks to therapeutic progress, the surgical treatment has become rare, reserved for certain special cases. We report the case of a patient with major B thalassemia, in whom the appearance of an abscessed abdominal mass has revealed several foci of EMH.