Secondary hemochromatosis

Case contributed by Huda B. Gharbia
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Known case of thalassemia with recurrent blood transfusions. old splenectomy.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Male
mri

The liver is enlarged in size, with marked signal loss in T2Wimages, that is lower than paraspinal muscle.

No focal lesion, no vascular distortion, regular outline.

Also signal loss of bone marrow,  and hypointensity of pancreas.

Case Discussion

In thalassemic pateint with multiple blood transfusions, signal loss of liver in comparison with skeletal muscle, and in bone marrow, denoting iron overload and in keeping with secondary hemochromatosis. Although pancreas is usually preserved, but when volume of infused blood is beyond reticuloendothelial system capacity, leading to iron deposition in parenchyma as pancreas.

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