MDS Symptoms and Diagnosis

Myelodysplastic syndromes often do not cause early symptoms and are sometimes found during a routine blood test. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

• Shortness of breath.
• Weakness or feeling tired.
• Easy bruising or bleeding.
• Petechiae (flat, pinpoint spots under the skin caused by bleeding).
• Fever or frequent infections.
• Bone pain.

Diagnosis/Screening for Myelodysplastic syndromes

• Physical exam and history:
  An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
• Complete blood count (CBC) with differential:
  A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
  
  • The number and types of red blood cells and platelets.
  • The number and type of white blood cells.
  • The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
• Bone Marrow biopsy and aspiration
  • Bone Marrow has both a solid and liquid part, the bone marrow biopsy or aspiration is the removal of a small amount of solid tissue and fluid using a needle
  • These samples are then analyzed to determine the percentage of red cells, white cells, platelets and blasts that are in the bone marrow

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