Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia associated with recurrent pulmonary emboli and benign pelvic tumours.

A 42-year-old woman presented with a huge benign pelvic tumour and recurrent pulmonary emboli associated with severe microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA). Following removal of the tumour and anticoagulation, all signs of MAHA disappeared. MAHA may occur when red blood cells pass through abnormal blood vessels in tumours. This patient is unusual in that the tumour was benign, rather than malignant. A further site of microangiopathy was the pulmonary vasculature.