Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Epidemiological Features of Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Results From Regional Cancer Surveys and Hospital-Based Statistics

  • Published:
International Journal of Hematology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Although myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have been increasingly diagnosed in recent years, precise data on their prevalence and incidence are still lacking. Due to difficulties of diagnosis and classification, large-scale population-based studies that are required for obtaining truly representative data on the epidemiology of MDS are currently not available. Our present knowledge of the incidence and other epidemiological characteristics of MDS is based on a few regional studies performed by authors with a long-lasting interest in these hemopathies. Despite certain limitations, these studies have consistently shown that MDS are relatively common hematological malignancies. Their crude incidence varies from 2.1 to 12.6 cases per 100,000 people per year. Among the age group that is mainly affected, people older than 70 years, we are now faced with incidence rates of about 15 to 50 cases per 100,000 people per year. The recent increase in MDS incidence observed in some studies is probably not the result of an actual increase in the number of cases, but reflects improvements in geriatric medical care and diagnosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Harris NL, Jaffe ES, Diebold J, et al. World Health Organization classification of neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues: report of the clinical advisory committee meeting-Airlie House, Virginia, November 1997.J Clin Oncol. 1999;17:3835–3849.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT. et al. Proposals for the classification of the myelodysplastic syndromes.Br J Haematol. 1982;51:189–199.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gallagher A, Darley RL, Padua RA. The molecular basis of myelodysplastic syndromes.Haematologica. 1997;191–204.

  4. Hamilton-Paterson JL. Preleukaemic anaemia.Acta Haematol. 1949;2:309–316.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Aul C, Bowen DT, Yoshida Y. Pathogenesis, etiology and epidemiology of myelodysplastic syndromes.Haematologica. 1998;83:71–86.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Van Leeuwen FE. Risk of acute myelogenous leukaemia and myelodysplasia following cancer treatment.Baillieres Clin Haematol. 1996;9:57–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cole P, Sateren W, Delzell E. Epidemiologic perspectives on myelodysplastic syndromes and leukemia.Leuk Res. 1995;19:361–365.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Reizenstein P, Dabrowski L. Increasing prevalence of the myelodysplastic syndrome. An international Delphi study.Anticancer Res. 1991;11:1069–1070.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. öst A, Reizenstein P. Minimal diagnostic criteria for the myelodys-plastic syndrome.Leuk Res. 1992;16:9–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Foucar K, Langdon RM, Armitage JO, Olson DB, Carroll TJ. Myelodysplastic syndromes. A clinical and pathologic analysis of 109 cases.Cancer. 1985;56:553–561.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Juneja SK, Imbert M, Jouault H, Scoazec JY, Sigaux F, Sultan C. Haematological features of primary myelodysplastic syndromes (PMDS) at initial presentation: a study of 118 cases.J Clin Pathol. 1983;36:1129–1135.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Teerenhovi L., Lintula R. Natural course of myelodysplastic syndromes—Helsinki experience.Scand J Haematol. 1986;36(suppl 45):102–106.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cunningham I, MacCallum SJ, Nicholls MD, et al. The myelodys-plastic syndromes: an analysis of prognostic factors in 226 cases from a single institution.Br J Haematol. 1995;90:602–606.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kerkhofs H, Hermans J, Haak HL, Leeksma CHW. Utility of the FAB classification for myelodysplastic syndromes: investigation of prognostic factors in 237 cases.Br J Haematol. 1987;65:73–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Sanz GF, Sanz MA, Vallespi T, et al. Two regression models and a scoring system for predicting survival and planning treatment in myelodysplastic syndromes: a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in 370 patients.Blood. 1989;74:395–408.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Morel P, Hebbar M, Lai JL, et al. Cytogenetic analysis has strong independent prognostic value in de novo myelodysplastic syndromes and can be included in a new scoring system: a report on 408 cases.Leukemia. 1993;7:1315–1324.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Goasguen JE, Garand R, Bizet M, et al. Prognostic factors of myelodysplastic syndromes—a simplified 3-D scoring system.Leuk Res. 1990;14:255–262.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Maschek H, Gutzmer R, Choritz H, Georgii A. Life expectancy in primary myelodysplastic syndromes: a prognostic score based upon histopathology from bone marrow biopsies of 569 patients.Eur J Haematol. 1994;53:280–287.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Greenberg P, Cox C, LeBeau MM, et al. International scoring system for evaluating prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes.Blood. 1997;89:2079–2088.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Oguma S, Yoshida Y, Uchino H, Maekawa T, Nomura T, Mizoguchi H. Clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes: a co-operative study based on 838 cases.Leukemia. 1995;19:219–225.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Paydas S, Kocak R. Younger age observation in myelodysplastic syndrome [letter].Leuk Res. 1996;20:367.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Fenaux P, Preudhomme C, Estienne MH, et al. De novo myelodys-plastic syndromes in adults aged 50 or less. A report on 37 cases.Leuk Res. 1990;14:1053–1059.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ribera JM, Cervantes F, Rozman C. A multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia according to the FAB criteria.Br J Haematol. 1987;65:307–311.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Van den Berghe H, Vermaelen K, Mecucci C, Barbieri D, Tricot G. The 5q-anomaly.Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 1985;17:189–225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Pedersen B. 5q- survival: importance of gender and deleted 5q bands and survival analysis based on 324 published cases.Leuk Lymphoma. 1998;31:325–334.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Aul C, Gattermann N, Schneider W. Age-related incidence and other epidemiological aspects of myelodysplastic syndromes.Br J Haematol. 1992;82:358–367.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Barrett J, Saunthararajah Y, Molldrem J. Myelodysplastic syndromes and aplastic anemia: distinct entities or diseases linked by a common pathophysiology?Semin Hematol. 2000;37:15–29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Williamson PJ, Kruger AR, Reynolds PJ, Hamblin TJ, Oscier DG. Establishing the incidence of myelodysplastic syndrome.Br J Haematol. 1994;87:743–745.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Cartwright RA. Incidence and epidemiology of the myelodys-plastic syndromes. In: Mufti GJ, Galton DAG, eds. The Myelodys-plastic Syndromes. Edinburgh, Scotland: Churchill Livingstone. 1992:23–31.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Radlund A, Thiede T, Hansen S, Carlsson M, Engquist L. Incidence of myelodysplastic syndromes in a Swedish population.Eur J Haematol. 1995;54:153–156.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Maynadié M, Verret C, Moskovtchenko P, et al. Epidemiological characteristics of myelodysplastic syndromes in a well-defined French population.Br J Cancer. 1996;74:288–290.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Bauduer F, Ducout L, Dastugue N, Capdupuy C, Renoux M. Epidemiology of myelodysplastic syndromes in a French general hospital of the Basque Country.Leuk Res. 1998;22:205–208.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Shimizu H, Matsushita Y, Aoki K, Nomura T, Yoshida Y, Mizoguchi H. Prevalence of the myelodysplastic syndromes in Japan.Int J Hematol. 1995;61:17–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Saarni MI, Linman JW. Preleukemia: the hematologic syndrome preceding acute leukemia.Am J Med. 1973;55:38–48.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. McNally RJQ, Roman E, Cartwright RA. Leukemias and lym-phomas: time trends in the UK, 1984-93.Cancer Causes Control. 1999;10:35–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Aul C, Gattermann N, Germing U, Runde V, Heyll A. Myelodys-plastische Syndrome. Epidemiologische und ätiologische Aspekte.Dtsch Med Wschr. 1992;117:1223–1231.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Pedersen-Bjergaard J, Philip P, Larsen SO, et al. Therapy-related myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia. Cytogenetic characteristics of 115 consecutive cases and risk in seven cohorts of patients treated intensively for malignant diseases in the Copenhagen series.Leukemia. 1993;7:1975–1986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Pui CH, Ribeiro RC, Hancock ML, et al. Acute myeloid leukemia in children treated with epipodophyllotoxins for acute lym-phoblastic leukemia.N Engl J Med. 1991;325:1682–1687.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Travis LB, Li CY, Zhang ZN, et al. Hematopoietic malignancies and related disorders among benzene-exposed workers in China.Leuk Lymphoma. 1994;14:91–102.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Honda Y, Delzell E, Cole P. An updated study of mortality among workers at a petroleum manufacturing plant.J Occup Envir Med. 1995;37:194–200.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Nisse C, Lorthois C, Dorp V, Eloy E, Haguenoer JM, Fenaux P. Exposure to occupational and environmental factors in myelodys-plastic syndromes. Preliminary results of a case-control study.Leukemia. 1995;9:693–399.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Mele A, Szklo M, Visani G, et al. Hair dye use and other risk factors for leukemia and pre-leukemia: a case-control study.Am J Epidemiol. 1994;139:609–619.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Correa A, Mohan A, Jackson L, Perry H, Helzlsouer K. Use of hair dyes, hematopoietic neoplasms, and lymphomas: a literature review, I: leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes.Cancer Invest. 2000;18:366–380.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medizinische Klinik II (Hämatologie, Onkologie, und Immunologie), St. Johannes-Hospital Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany

    C. Aul, A. Giagounidis & U. Germing

Authors
  1. C. Aul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Giagounidis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. U. Germing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Aul.

About this article

Cite this article

Aul, C., Giagounidis, A. & Germing, U. Epidemiological Features of Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Results From Regional Cancer Surveys and Hospital-Based Statistics. Int J Hematol 73, 405–410 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02994001

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02994001

Key words

Search

Navigation