Clinical expressions of the expansion of the bone marrow in the chronic anemias: the role of radiotherapy.

Abstract

In the chronic anemias and particularly in the hemoglobinopathies and in the myeloproliferative disorders there is compensatory hypertrophy and expansion of the bone marrow. This results in severe rarefaction of the bone and in extramedullary hemopoiesis. Morbid clinical expressions of the osseous changes are spontaneous fractures and osteoarthropathy, while extramedullary hemopoiesis presenting in the form of tumor-like masses may cause pressure symptoms on adjacent organs, particularly on the spinal cord. Extramedullary hemopoiesis masses can be easily diagnosed since they present typical radiological appearance. Radiotherapy has been used for the treatment of these conditions.