Spinal space occupying lesions in thalassemia major.

A 17 year old patient suffering from thalassemia, who had been dependent on transfusions since the age of three, showed an increasing incomplete sensory and motor transverse cord lesion below T-10. The causes were found to be multiple epidural erythropoietic foci, confirmed by myelography, CT, and biopsy. The lesions were located in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. Complete remission of the neurological symptoms was achieved by an immediate hypertransfusion regimen and subsequent local radiation therapy of the neuroaxis. Thirty-six cases of thalassemia and spinal space occupying lesions have been reported in the literature. The therapeutic results of these are presented and compared with our findings.