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