CT in B-thalassemia: iron deposition in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.

The authors report the striking increase in lymph node density due to hemochromatosis observed with computed tomography (CT) in nine patients with Cooley anemia treated with multiple blood transfusions. The CT appearance and pathologic findings of hemochromatosis of the liver and spleen in three of these patients were also observed and correlated with pathologic specimens. CT density of the liver seemed to relate to the degree of hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis, rather than the amount of iron. Previous reports have not emphasized dense ferritinized lymph nodes in treated Cooley anemia patients.