smoldering leukemia


myelodysplastic syndrome

a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by the presence of dysplastic changes in one or more of hematopoietic lineages. The common clinical picture may include anemia, infections, and bleeding problems. Occurs generally in elderly patients, or those with prior exposure to leukemogenic agents. Transformation rates to acute leukemia range from 10-80%. Cytogenetic abnormalities are associated with a poor prognosis. Synonym(s): preleukemia, smoldering leukemia

smoldering leukemia

See Myelodysplastic syndrome, Preleukemia.

my·e·lo·dys·plas·tic syn·drome

(mī'ĕ-lō-dis-plast'ik sin'drōm) A primary, neoplastic, pluripotential stem cell disorder characterized by peripheral blood cytopenias and prominent maturation abnormalities in the bone marrow. The disease evolves progressively and may transform into leukemia. Classified by the French-American-British (FAB) system (q.v.) into five groups.
Synonym(s): chronic erythremic myelosis, preleukemia, smoldering leukemia.