The myelodysplastic syndrome—a practical guide

Abstract The term ‘myelodysplastic syndrome’ (MDS) is of recent coinage but neatly describes a well‐recognized group of conditions. In the past they have been confusingly classified by a variety of terms from ‘refractory anaemia’ to ‘pre‐leukaemia’. There have been several excellent reviews (Galton, 1984, 1986; Francis and Hoffbrand, 1985; Jacobs, 1985) which comprehensively cover the history and development of MDS as a concept and describe recent advances both in diagnosis and treatment and in the understanding of the pathogenesis. The purpose of this paper is not to rival these reviews in exhaustive detail, but to present a practical guide to the diagnosis and management of MDS as it presents to the working physician. In doing this we draw heavily on experience of 238 cases of MDS seen in our own unit in the past 6 years.