Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MD) - Diagnosis and Management Summary

myelo (marrow) -dys- (abnormal) -plastic (shape) = funny-shaped cells in the marrow

Mean age at diagnosis: 70 years old, ~10,000 new cases diagnosed annually in US

Features:

 • Presents with cytopenias (usually anemia).

 • Bone marrow biopsy needed for diagnosis and risk-stratification

 • Risks: infection, symptomatic cytopenias, transformation to acute leukemia

Management

 • Conservative/supportive care (growth factors)

 • Hypomethylating agents to improve counts

 • Allogeneic stem cell transplant is only curative treatment



- BWH Medicine Chiefs @BrighamChiefs



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