title: Idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS) versus low risk MDS: the diagnostic interface.
abstract: It may sometimes be difficult to diagnose low risk MDS in patients with mild cytopenia. We report on 10 patients with mild to marked, unexplained cytopenia without definitive signs of a myeloid neoplasm. In two patients, a karyotype-abnormality (trisomy 14; monosomy 7) was detected in a small subset of bone marrow cells. Progression to overt MDS was seen in two patients including the one with monosomy 7. In the remaining cases, no MDS developed in a follow-up of at least 6 months. The phrase "idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS)", as also suggested by Mufti and co-workers, is proposed and long term follow-up is recommended to assess the evolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology & Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wimazal
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fonatsch
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thalhammer
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwarzinger
authors.forename: Leonhard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Müllauer
authors.forename: Wolfgang R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Sperr
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valent
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics