Quote:
Originally Posted by rdavidp
What is meant by dysplasia in MDS? I know it means abnormal, but in what way? Are increased blast cell counts considered dysplasia? Genetic mutation such as deletion or trisomy? Or does it have to be how the blood cell is specifically formed and shaped?
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It's the latter: the size and shape of the cells in your bone marrow, which are the signs of abnormal growth or development detected with a bone marrow biopsy. Genetic mutations make cells abnormal too, of course, but I don't think that characteristic influenced the name given to these diseases.
Myelo = bone marrow
Dysplastic = abnormal cell growth or development
Syndrome = group of symptoms, which together can define a disease
Myelodysplastic Syndromes = a group of related diseases involving abnormal bone marrow cell growth or development
An increased blast cell count is an important factor in classifying MDS too, but cell counts don't contribute to the name of the disease and not all MDS patients have increased blasts.