Thoracic Extramedullary Hematopoiesis Mimicking Metastatic Cancer

J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2016 Oct;23(4):343-346. doi: 10.1097/LBR.0000000000000296.

Abstract

Thoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a rare manifestation in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm. A 76-year-old woman with a long-standing history of polycythemia vera presented with a 2-month history of worsening dyspnea and left-sided wheezing. A chest computed tomography showed an ill-defined soft tissue mass encasing the left mainstem bronchus causing airway obstruction, associated with paratracheal and paraesophageal lymphadenopathy. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the soft tissue mass and mediastinoscopy with excisional biopsy of a paratracheal lymph node demonstrated EMH with increased myeloid blasts. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed postpolycythemic myelofibrosis consistent with progression of polycythemia vera to myelofibrosis. We describe the bronchoscopic management of a case of EMH presenting as a mediastinal mass, mimicking malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Airway Obstruction / diagnostic imaging
  • Airway Obstruction / etiology*
  • Airway Obstruction / surgery
  • Bronchi / diagnostic imaging
  • Bronchoscopy / methods
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary*
  • Polycythemia Vera / complications*
  • Polycythemia Vera / diagnostic imaging
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / complications*
  • Primary Myelofibrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Stents
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed