The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of hematopoietic disorders characterized in most patients by peripheral blood cytopenia with hypercellular bone marrow and dysplasia of the cellular elements. Cytogenetic studies play a major role in confirmation of diagnosis and prediction of clinical outcome in MDS, and have contributed to the understanding of its pathogenesis. Clonal chromosomal abnormalities are detected by routine karyotyping techniques in 40%–70% of cases of de novo MDS, and 95% of cases of therapy-related MDS.
The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of hematopoietic disorders characterized in most patients by peripheral blood cytopenia with hypercellular bone marrow and dysplasia of the cellular elements. Cytogenetic studies play a major role in confirmation of diagnosis and prediction of clinical outcome in MDS, and have contributed to the understanding of its pathogenesis. Clonal chromosomal abnormalities are detected by routine karyotyping techniques in 40%–70% of cases of de novo MDS, and 95% of cases of therapy-related MDS.