Adrenal extramedullary hematopoiesis associated with beta-thalassemia trait in an adult woman: a case report and review of literature

Introduction: Adrenal myelolipoma with extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a rare condition.

Case presentation: We report a case of 48-year-old woman suffering from recurrent right hypochondrial pain for two years. Laboratory work-up revealed chronic microcytic iron deficiency anemia with beta thalassemia trait, right adrenal myelolipoma with histopathological evidence of hematopoietic cells (EMH). The patient underwent open resection of the adrenal gland and the post-operative course was uneventful.

Conclusions: EMH could be presented with several clinical hematological disorders. Surgical management becomes inevitable in certain adrenal EMH cases especially in the presence of a large adrenal mass.