Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Continuing Education Credits

• P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1 hour(s)
• Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE - General (Hematology): 1 hour(s)

Objectives

• Define myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
• Describe the epidemiology and etiology of MDS.
• Explain the diagnostic criteria of MDS.
• Describe the morphological features of MDS.
• Explain the classification of MDS according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
• Discuss prognosis of MDS according to the subtypes (low, intermediate, and high grade MDS).
• Describe the differential diagnosis of MDS.

Course Outline

• Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) -- Definition, Etiology, and Epidemiology
• Definition, Etiology, and Epidemiology
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are caused by viral infections.
• Cytotoxic agents, chemical, or radiation therapy may be etiologic factors of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS).
• Clinical and Diagnostic Features of MDS
• Clinical Features of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
• Diagnostic Features of MDS
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are associated with microcytic/hypochromic anemia.
• The three myeloid cell lines in the bone marrow are: granulocytic, erythroid, and megakaryocytic.
• Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) commonly have enlarged liver and spleen.
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are commonly associated with leukocytosis and neutrophilia in peripheral blood evaluations.
• Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) demonstrate very low levels of vitamin B12.
• The Morphological Features of MDS
• The Morphological Features of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
• Dysplastic Erythroid Cell Line (Dyserythropoiesis)
• Examples of Dysplastic Erythroid Cells (Dyserythropoiesis), continued
• Dysplastic Granulocytic Cell Line (Dysgranulopoiesis)
• Dysplastic Megakaryocytic Cell Line (Dysmegakaryopoiesis)
• The dysplasia of the erythroid cell line may include nuclear budding, megaloblastoid, and ring sideroblasts in cases of MDS.
• Normal megakaryocytes show multinucleation or monolobes.
• Granulocytic dysplasia in MDS may include nuclear hyposegmentaion and/or cytoplasmic hypogranulation.
• The Classification of MDS
• The Classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
• The Classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), continued
• The Significance of Auer Rods in MDS:
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) with single line dysplasia show <5% bone marrow blasts.
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) with multilineage dysplasia show 10-19 % blasts in the bone marrow.
• The Prognostic Criteria of MDS
• Prognostic Criteria of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) with bone marrow blasts counts of 5-9% carries a low risk grade.
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) with bone marrow blast counts between 10-19% are considered to be high risk grade.
• The Differential Diagnosis of MDS
• Differential Diagnosis of MDS
• Vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies may cause megaloblastic changes in the bone marrow and blood cytopenia.
• Chemotherapeutic drugs cause bone marrow hyperplasia and leukocytosis.
• MDS Therapy
• MDS therapy
• References
• References

Additional Information

Level of instruction: Intermediate