Myelodysplastic Syndrome Diagnosis
Diagnosis of MDS at the initial stages can be difficult because there are no signs and symptoms visible at the early stages. There are several diagnostic methods and tests to diagnose myelodysplastic syndromes such as physical examination, blood cell count, a biopsy of the bone marrow, and genetic testing. Not all techniques used for one patient; the choice of diagnostic methods depends on many factors such as:
- The result of previous medical tests
- Age and overall health condition of the patient
- Signs and symptoms
- Type of MDS
Following are the criteria and methods used to diagnose MDS:
Patients medical history and physical examination:
Health care professionals do a physical inspection of the patient to find any signs and symptoms of MDS, such as lumps or anything that is abnormal and relates to MDS. They also ask for any family history of MDS or health history of the patient, such as previous illnesses, treatments, and health habits.