Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) symptoms and diagnosis
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) types
There are different types of MDS, which behave differently. This can be difficult to understand at first. Spend time talking to your doctor or nurse so you understand your diagnosis and the treatment you’ll need.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a way of classifying different types of MDS. This was last updated in 2016, and replaces an older classification of MDS in 2008. The older 2008 classification is explained in our booklet, Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
The 2016 classification of MDS is based on blood results, the appearance of the bone marrow, the number abnormal, immature blood cells, and any chromosome changes found,
The terminology used can be difficult to understand, so ask your doctor to explain which type of MDS you have.
There are six broad types of MDS included in the current 2016 classification. These are:
- MDS with single lineage dysplasia (MDS-SLD)
- MDS with multilineage dysplasia (MDS-MLD)
- MDS with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS)
- MDS, unclassifiable (MDS-U)
- MDS with isolated del(5q) or with 1 additional abnormality
- MDS with excess blasts (MDS-EB); MDS-EB-1 and MDS-EB-2.
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