Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Question 1

What is myelodysplastic syndrome?

Answer 1

Heterogenous group of progressive disorders featuring ineffective proliferation and differentiation of abnormally maturning myeloid stem cells. RISK OF TRANSFORMATION TO AML?

Question 2

What are myelodysplastic syndromes characterised by?

Answer 2

Peripheral cytopenia, qualtitative abnormalities of cell maturation, RISK OF AML transformation.
Typically seen in elderly.
By definition all patients have <20% blasts

Question 3

Cells you see in myelodysplastic syndrome?

Answer 3

RBCs: Ringed sideroblasts (abnormal nucleated blast surrounded by iron granule ring)
WBCs: hypogranulation, PSEUDO PELGER HUET ANOMALY (HYPOSEGMENTED NEUTROPHIL, neutrophils with only 2 nuclear lobes)
Platelets: micromegakaryocytes, hypoblated nuclei