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Myelodysplastic syndrome

Last reviewed: 2 Feb 2026
Last updated: 07 Nov 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • older age
  • fatigue
  • exercise intolerance
  • pallor
  • bruising or bleeding
  • prior chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy
  • congenital disorder
  • bacterial infections
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • autoimmune disorders
  • splenomegaly
  • hepatomegaly
  • lymphadenopathy
Full details

Risk factors

  • age >70 years
  • prior chemotherapy
  • prior radiation therapy
  • prior autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  • congenital disorders
  • tobacco exposure
  • benzene exposure
  • aplastic anemia
  • paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • CBC with differential
  • peripheral blood smear
  • reticulocyte count
  • red blood cell folate
  • serum vitamin B12
  • iron studies
  • bone marrow aspiration with iron stain
  • bone marrow core biopsy
  • genetic testing
Full details

Tests to avoid

  • fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)
Full details

Tests to consider

  • viral serology
  • serum erythropoietin
  • lactate dehydrogenase
  • HLA typing
  • flow cytometry
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

lower-risk disease: asymptomatic

lower-risk disease: MDS-5q (del(5q) ± one other cytogenetic abnormality except those involving chromosome 7) with symptomatic anemia

lower-risk disease: MDS-SF3B1 (no del(5q) ± other cytogenetic abnormalities with ring sideroblasts ≥15% [or ≥5% with an SF3B1 mutation]) with symptomatic anemia

lower-risk disease: no del(5q) with ring sideroblasts <15% (or <5% with an SF3B1 mutation) with symptomatic anemia

lower-risk disease: with clinically relevant thrombocytopenia or neutropenia (without symptomatic anemia)

higher-risk disease: transplant candidate

higher-risk disease: nontransplant candidate

Contributors

Authors

Vijaya Raj Bhatt, ​MBBS, MS

​​Professor

Section Leader, Malignant Hematology

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Hematology-Oncology

Nebraska

NE

Disclosures

VRB has participated in a Safety Monitoring Committee for Protagonist Therapeutics and has served as an Associate Editor for the journal Current Problems in Cancer, and as a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Acute Myeloid Leukemia panel. He has received consulting fees from Taiho, Sanofi, Imugene, Genentech, Incyte, Servier Pharmaceuticals, and AbbVie; research funding (institutional) from Cynata Therapeutics, MEI Pharma, Actinium Pharmaceutical, Sanofi, AbbVie, Pfizer, Incyte, Jazz, and NMDP; and drug support (institutional) from Chimerix for a trial.

Prajwal Dhakal, MBBS

Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine-Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation

University of Iowa

Iowa City

IA

Disclosures

PD has received honoraria from the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, and Iowa Oncology Society. PD has received consulting fees from AbbVie, Genentech, and Stemline Therapeutics.

Acknowledgements

Dr Vijaya Raj Bhatt and Dr Prajwal Dhakal would like to gratefully acknowledge Professor Apar Kishor Ganti and Associate Professor Alissa Marr, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

AKG has received research support from Amgen, Apexigen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, Merck, New Link Genetics, Pfizer, and Takeda Oncology. AKG has been reimbursed for consulting work for AbbVie and Genentech. None of the grants or payments relate to work involving myelodysplastic syndrome. AM declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

David P. Steensma, MD, FACP

Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology) and Oncology

Division of Hematology

Department of Medicine

Mayo Clinic

Rochester

MN

Disclosures

DPS declares that he has no competing interests.

Adrian C. Newland, BA, MB, BCh, MA, FRCP, FRCPath

Professor of Haematology

Queen Mary University

London

UK

Disclosures

ACN declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

Referências

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Principais artigos

Killick SB, Wiseman DH, Quek L, et al. British Society for Haematology guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis of adult myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 2021 Jul;194(2):282-93.Texto completo  Resumo

Killick SB, Ingram W, Culligan D, et al. British Society for Haematology guidelines for the management of adult myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 2021 Jul;194(2):267-81.Texto completo  Resumo

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: myelodysplastic syndromes [internet publication].Texto completo

Fenaux P, Haase D, Santini V, et al; ESMO Guidelines Committee. Myelodysplastic syndromes: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2021 Feb;32(2):142-56.Texto completo  Resumo

Artigos de referência

Uma lista completa das fontes referenciadas neste tópico está disponível para os usuários com acesso total ao BMJ Best Practice.
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome images
  • Diagnósticos diferenciais

    • Aplastic anemia
    • HIV infection
    • Other viral infections (e.g., parvovirus, CMV, or hepatitis)
    Mais Diagnósticos diferenciais
  • Diretrizes

    • NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: myelodysplastic syndromes
    • Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myelodysplastic neoplasias and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (11th update)
    Mais Diretrizes
  • Calculadoras

    Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) for myelodysplastic syndrome

    Mais Calculadoras
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