Focal extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen: An uncommon MRI presentation

Abstract

In this article, we present a case study of a 51-year-old male patient with thrombocytopenia, showcasing a rare magnetic resonance (MR) imaging presentation of focal extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) in the spleen. The diverse MR signal characteristics of EMH, influenced by the presence of fat and the degree of hematopoietic activity, are well-documented. However, the observed delayed central enhancement in our patient's MR imaging is novel and, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported. Following a detailed pathological examination, we propose that the presence of hypocellular collagenous stroma in the central zone of the EMH lesion could explain this unique enhancement pattern.