2. Contents
• Introduction
• History
• Incidence
• Aetiology
• Classification
• Pathogenesis
• Cytogenetic abnormalities
in MDS
• Molecular basis of MDS
• Diagnosis
• Differential diagnosis
• Prognostic scoring
systems
• Management and
treatment
• Case discussion
• References
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 2
3. Introduction
• The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of
clonal haematopoietic stem cell diseases
• Characterized by
– cytopenia,
– dysplasia in one or more of the major myeloid
lineages,
– ineffective haematopoiesis,
– recurrent genetic abnormalities and
– increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia
(AML)
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 3
4. History
• 1900 by Von Leube, leukanamie -a patient with severe
megaloblastic anaemia that progressed to acute leukaemia
• 1930s, the term ‘refractory anaemia- macrocytic anaemia
that was unresponsive to iron or other dietary haematinics
• 1980s, the term ‘myelodysplasia’, or ‘myelodysplastic
syndromes’ gained widespread acceptance and reflects the
heterogeneity of the disease
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 4
5. Incidence
• Disease of elderly with median age of presentation being
65 years
• 3.5-4.5 per 1,00,000 in US
• Increases to >20 per 1,00,000 at >70 years
• India, median age of presentation being 45 years
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 5
9. Classification- WHO(2016)
• MDS with single lineage dysplasia(MDS-SLD)
• MDS with multilineage dysplasia(MDS-MLD)
• MDS with ring sideroblasts(MDS-RS)
– MDS with single lineage dysplasia(MDS-RS-SLD)
– MDS with multilineage dysplasia(MDS-RS-MLD)
• MDS with isolated del(5q)
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 9
10. Classification – WHO(2016) contd..
• MDS with excess blasts(MDS-EB)
– MDS with excess blasts-1(MDS-EB-1)
– MDS with excess blasts-2(MDS-EB-2)
• MDS, unclassifiable(MDS-U)
– MDS-U with 1% blood blasts
– MDS-U with single lineage dysplasia and
pancytopenia
– MDS-U based on defining cytogenetic abnormality
• Refractory cytopenia of chilhood
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 10
12. Molecular basis of MDS
Genes with mutations in MDS
SF3B1 DNMT3A
TET2 RUNX1
SRSF2 U2AF1
ASXL1 TP53
EZH2
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 12
13. Diagnosis
• Clinical features
• Blood counts
• Peripheral smear morphology
• Bone marrow morphology
• Bone marrow histology
• Immunophenotyping
• Cytogenetic abnormalities
• Molecular abnormalities
• Biochemical tests
₋ Conventional karyotyping
₋ Multicolour FISH
₋ Gene sequencing
₋ SNP array
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 13
14. Clinical features
• Anemia dominates the early course
• Gradual onset of fatigue and weakness, dyspnea, and
pallor
• One-half the patients are asymptomatic-incidentally on
routine blood counts
• 20% of patients have splenomegaly.
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 14
20. Morphological features of subtypes of MDS(WHO)
Entity name No of
dyspl
astic
linea
ges
No
of
cyto
peni
as
Ring
sideroblasts
as % of
marrow
erythroid
elements
BM and
PB blasts
Cytogenetics
MDS-SLD 1 1-2 < 15 %/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-MLD 2-3 1-3 <15%/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS
MDS-RS-SLD 1 1-2 ≥15%/≥5%
BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS-MLD 2-3 1-3 ≥15%/≥5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS with isolated
del(5q)
1-3 1-2 None or any BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
del(5q) alone or with 1
additional abnormality,
except loss of chromosome
7 or del (7q)9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 20
25. Morphological features of subtypes of MDS(WHO)
Entity name No of
dyspl
astic
linea
ges
No
of
cyto
peni
as
Ring
sideroblasts
as % of
marrow
erythroid
elements
BM and
PB blasts
Cytogenetics
MDS-SLD 1 1-2 < 15 %/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-MLD 2-3 1-3 <15%/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS
MDS-RS-SLD 1 1-2 ≥15%/≥5%
BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS-MLD 2-3 1-3 ≥15%/≥5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS with isolated
del(5q)
1-3 1-2 None or any BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
del(5q) alone or with 1
additional abnormality,
except loss of chromosome
7 or del (7q)9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 25
27. Morphological features of subtypes of MDS(WHO)
Entity name No of
dyspl
astic
linea
ges
No
of
cyto
peni
as
Ring
sideroblasts
as % of
marrow
erythroid
elements
BM and
PB blasts
Cytogenetics
MDS-SLD 1 1-2 < 15 %/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-MLD 2-3 1-3 <15%/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS
MDS-RS-SLD 1 1-2 ≥15%/≥5%
BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS-MLD 2-3 1-3 ≥15%/≥5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS with isolated
del(5q)
1-3 1-2 None or any BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
del(5q) alone or with 1
additional abnormality,
except loss of chromosome
7 or del (7q)9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 27
30. Morphological features of subtypes of MDS(WHO)
Entity name No of
dyspl
astic
linea
ges
No
of
cyto
peni
as
Ring
sideroblasts
as % of
marrow
erythroid
elements
BM and
PB blasts
Cytogenetics
MDS-SLD 1 1-2 < 15 %/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-MLD 2-3 1-3 <15%/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS
MDS-RS-SLD 1 1-2 ≥15%/≥5%
BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS-MLD 2-3 1-3 ≥15%/≥5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS with isolated
del(5q)
1-3 1-2 None or any BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
del(5q) alone or with 1
additional abnormality,
except loss of chromosome
7 or del (7q)9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 30
31. Morphological features of subtypes of MDS(WHO)
Entity name No of
dyspl
astic
linea
ges
No
of
cyto
peni
as
Ring
sideroblasts
as % of
marrow
erythroid
elements
BM and
PB blasts
Cytogenetics
MDS-SLD 1 1-2 < 15 %/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-MLD 2-3 1-3 <15%/<5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS
MDS-RS-SLD 1 1-2 ≥15%/≥5%
BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS-RS-MLD 2-3 1-3 ≥15%/≥5% BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
Any, unless fullfills all
criteria for MDS with
isolated del (5q)
MDS with isolated
del(5q)
1-3 1-2 None or any BM 5%,
PB<1%, no
Auer rods
del(5q) alone or with 1
additional abnormality,
except loss of chromosome
7 or del (7q)9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 31
33. Morphological features of subtypes of MDS(WHO)
Entity name No of
dyspl
astic
linea
ges
No
of
cyto
peni
as
Ring
sideroblasts
as % of
marrow
erythroid
elements
BM and PB blasts Cytoge
netics
MDS-EB
MDS-EB-1 1-3 1-3 None or any
BM 5-9% or PB 2-4%,BM<10%
and PB<5%, no Auer rods
Any
MDS-EB-2 1-3 1-3 None or any BM 10-19% or PB 5-19 % or
Auer rods, BM and PB <20%
Any
MDS-U
With 1%
blood blasts
1-3 1-3 None or any
BM-5%,PB=1%, no Auer rods Any
With SLD and
pancytopenia
1 3 None or any BM-5%,PB<1%, no Auer rods Any
Based on
defining
cytogenetic
abnormality
0 1-3 <15% BM-5%,PB<1%, no Auer rods MDS-
defining
abnorm
ality9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 33
35. Morphological features of subtypes of MDS(WHO)
Entity name No of
dyspl
astic
linea
ges
No
of
cyto
peni
as
Ring
sideroblasts
as % of
marrow
erythroid
elements
BM and PB blasts Cytoge
netics
MDS-EB
MDS-EB-1 1-3 1-3 None or any
BM 5-9% or PB 2-4%,BM<10%
and PB<5%, no Auer rods
Any
MDS-EB-2 1-3 1-3 None or any BM 10-19% or PB 5-19 % or
Auer rods, BM and PB <20%
Any
MDS-U
With 1%
blood blasts
1-3 1-3 None or any
BM-5%,PB=1%, no Auer rods Any
With SLD and
pancytopenia
1 3 None or any BM-5%,PB<1%, no Auer rods Any
Based on
defining
cytogenetic
abnormality
0 1-3 <15% BM-5%,PB<1%, no Auer rods MDS-
defining
abnorm
ality9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 35
38. Morphological features of subtypes of MDS(WHO)
Entity name No of
dyspl
astic
linea
ges
No
of
cyto
peni
as
Ring
sideroblasts
as % of
marrow
erythroid
elements
BM and PB blasts Cytoge
netics
MDS-EB
MDS-EB-1 1-3 1-3 None or any
BM 5-9% or PB 2-4%,BM<10%
and PB<5%, no Auer rods
Any
MDS-EB-2 1-3 1-3 None or any BM 10-19% or PB 5-19 % or
Auer rods, BM and PB <20%
Any
MDS-U
With 1%
blood blasts
1-3 1-3 None or any
BM-5%,PB=1%, no Auer rods Any
With SLD and
pancytopenia
1 3 None or any BM-5%,PB<1%, no Auer rods Any
Based on
defining
cytogenetic
abnormality
0 1-3 <15% BM-5%,PB<1%, no Auer rods MDS-
defining
abnorm
ality9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 38
39. Childhood MDS
• Aggressive clinical course
• More often associated with preexisting marrow failure or
congenital abnormalities
• Monosomy 7 is most common cytogenetic abnormality
for primary MDS
• Bone marrow transplantation is the treatment
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40. Minimal diagnostic criteria for MDS in children
• At least two of the following:
– Sustained unexplained cytopenia (neutropenia,
thrombocytopenia or anemia)
– At least bilineage morphologic myelodysplasia
– Acquired clonal cytogenetic abnormality in
hematopoietic cells
– Increased blasts (> 5%)
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 40
41. Types of childhood MDS
• Refractory cytopenia of childhood
• Conventional MDS in children
– MDS-EB
– t- MDS
– MDS-RS
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42. Bone marrow findings in refractory cytopenia of
childhood(WHO-2016)
Bone marrow biopsy Bone marrow aspirate cytology
Erythropoiesis Patchy distribition
Left shift
Increased
Nuclear lobulation
Multinuclearity
Megaloblastoid changes
Granulopoiesis Marked decrease
Left shift
Pseudo – pelger- huet anomaly
Agranulation of cytoplasm
Hypogranulation of cytoplasm
Nuclear- cytoplasmic maturation
defects
Megakaryopoiesis Marked decrease
Dysplastic changes
Micromegakaryocytes
Micromegakaryocytes
Multiple separated nuclei
Small round nuclei
Lymphocytes May be increased focally or
dispersed
May be increased
CD 34+ cells No increase9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 43
44. • Differential diagnosis of this group includes
– Toxic myelopathy
– Autoimmune disorders
– Hypoplastic AML
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45. Secondary / therapy related MDS(s- MDS and t-
MDS)
• Stromal changes like increased reticulin (grade 2-3)
• Stromal edema
• Gelatinous marrow transformation are observed
• Necrosis of bone and marrows
• Plasma cells
• Reactive lymphoid nodules
• Granulomas
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 48
46. • Therapy related MDS (t-MDS) is of 2 types
– MDS occurring after many years of alkylating drug
intake and are associated with -7/ del 7q and /or -5/del
5q abnormalities
– MDS resulting after > 2 yrs of use of topoisomerase II
inhibitor drugs like epipodophyllotoxins e. g.
etoposide and teniposide.
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 49
47. MDS-Eo
• This rare form of MDS demonstrates clonal eosinophilia
showing hyposegmented and dysplastic eosinophils
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48. MDS with marrow fibrosis (MDS-f)
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49. Familial MDS(myeloid neoplasms with
germline predisposition)
• Families with > 2 cases of MDS/acute leukemia/
unexplained cytopenias/cases with organ manifestations
fitting into the category of hereditary myeloid malignancy
syndrome (HMMS) should be screened for familial MDS.
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 52
50. Differential diagnosis for MDS
• Vit B12 and folic acid deficiency
• Exposure to arsenic and other heavy metals
• Congenital dyserythropoietic anemias
• PNH
• HIV
• G-CSF therapy
• Parvo virus B 19 therapy
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 53
51. Prognostic scoring systems and risk stratification
• International prognostic scoring system
• WHO prognostic scoring system
9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 54
58. Peripheral smear
• The neutrophilic cells show marked hyposegmentation
and hypogranulation.
• Red blood cell (RBC) morphology includes anisocytosis
and poikilocytosis, teardrop cells, ovalocytes, and
schistocytes.
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59. Bone marrow
• Cellularity of about 75%
• Myeloid hyperplasia with
• 9% blasts
• 26% promyelocytes
• 18% myelocytes
• 6% metamyelocytes
• 4% bands
• 37% eosinophils
• M:E was 12:1
• The myelocytes were hypogranular, and some had two nuclei and
blasts
• The erythroid precursors showed megaloblastoid changes.
• Megakaryocytes were adequate in number but showed abnormal
forms with nuclear separation and single nucleated forms.9/15/2020 SEMINAR-PESIMSR-MDS 62
64. References
• Raj K, Mufti G J. The myelodysplastic syndromes.In
Hoffbrand A V, Higgs D R, Keeling D M, Mehta A B:
Postgraduates haematology. 7th ed.Wiley Blackwell: 2016.
P.438-73
• Young N S. Myelodysplasia.In Bone Marrow Failure
Syndromes Including Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplasia.In
Kasper et al. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine. 19th
ed. McGraw-Hill Edu: 2015. P. 669-72
• World Health Organization Classification of Tumours . Steven
H. Swerdlow .Elias Campo.Nancy Lee Harris .Elaine S. Jaffe
.Stefano A. Pileri .Harald Stein .Jorgen Thiele. International
Agency for Research on Cancer. 4th edition. Lyon, 2017
• Tejinder Singh. Atlas and text of hematology. 4th edition.
Volume 2. pg315-345. 2018
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