Myelodysplastic Syndromes Diagnosis
Effective treatment begins with a precise diagnosis of your myelodysplastic syndrome. At Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, we’ll analyze your cancer so you can be confident in your treatment plan.
Diagnosing Your Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Myelodysplastic syndromes, or myelodysplastic neoplasms, are a rare group of disorders caused by abnormal development of hematopoietic (immature) stem cells in the bone marrow, thereby affecting production of healthy blood cells.
This results in fewer red blood cells (anemia) to carry oxygen throughout the body, fewer white blood cells to fight and prevent infections, or fewer platelets to prevent and stop bleeding.
An Accurate Diagnosis is Key
Myelodysplastic syndromes can be challenging to diagnose. Symptoms can be similar to other conditions, including certain types of leukemia, aplastic anemia, vitamin or mineral definciencies or an overactive immune system.
Mild blood-count abnormalities found during routine blood work may signal a potential diagnosis. Simple tests such as a complete blood count or peripheral blood smear can confirm abnormalities. A bone marrow biopsy is performed to help diagnose myelodysplastic syndromes. The bone marrow biopsy includes drawing liquid containing bone marrow elements from the bone cavity and retrieving a small piece of bone material. The procedure is performed in the outpatient setting, and we have a specialized procedural clinic with highly trained providers.
Our hematopathologists are highly trained in using various approaches to study samples obtained through a bone marrow biopsy. Those include morphological assessments and molecular and cytogenetic studies, with new diagnostic procedures constantly being evaluated.