Bilateral pleural effusions in a beta-thalassemia intermedia patient with posterior mediastinal extramedullary hematopoietic masses.

Intractable bilateral exudative pleural effusions developed, following systemic sepsis without pulmonary infection, in a beta-thalassemia intermedia patient with longstanding mediastinal hematopoietic masses. The pleura were not infiltrated by hematopoietic cells. Bilateral talc pleurodesis successfully controlled the effusions.