Intrathoracic heterotopic bone marrow simulating a neoplasm: report of a case

Abstract

A case of massive intrathoracic heterotopic bone marrow is reported. The patient, a Chinese woman aged 39 yr, was found to have a symptomless mass in the thorax during a routine radiological examination. She was operated on with a mistaken diagnosis of intrathoracic neoplasm. The true nature of the mass was established by histological examination of the resected specimen. After the operation the patient developed jaundice, and was found to be anemic. The spleen was enlarged and there was a history of previous cholecystectomy. Hematological investigations showed that the patient had hereditary spherocytosis. The literature is reviewed and the salient points of this rare condition are outlined.