Myelodysplastic syndrome

Also known as MDS is a heterogeneous group of chronic myeloid neoplasms which usually share the following features: cytopenia (decrease in number of a cell line in blood with the exception of MDS with isolated 5q- which may show an increase in platelets), lack of splenomegaly and a Hypercellular marrow. The most common MDS include RAEB-I, RAEB-II, RCUD (e.g. RA or RARS), RCMD, and MDS with isolated 5q-. RAEB have the worst prognosis (higher liklihod of transforming into AML) while MDS with isolated 5q- has the best prognosis.