Myelophthisic Anemia Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Emmanuel C Besa, MD; Chief Editor: Koyamangalath Krishnan   more...
 
Updated: Aug 23, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

The leukoerythroblastic picture, the characteristic laboratory changes associated with myelophthisic anemia, is characterized by the following (see the image below):

  • Nucleated red blood cells and teardrop forms
  • Giant platelets
  • Immature white blood cells (eg, myelocytes, metamyelocytes, occasionally promyelocytes and myeloblasts) in the peripheral blood smear This blood film at 1000X magnification demonstrateThis blood film at 1000X magnification demonstrates a leukoerythroblastic blood picture with the presence of precursor cells of the myeloid and erythroid lineage. In addition, anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, and polychromasia can be seen. Courtesy of U. Woermann, MD, Division of Instructional Media, Institute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Switzerland.

Go to Anemia, Chronic Anemia, Megaloblastic Anemia, Myelophthisic Anemia, Hemolytic Anemia, and Sideroblastic Anemias for complete information on these topics.

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Emmanuel C Besa, MD  Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Emmanuel C Besa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Education, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ulrich Josef Woermann, MD  Consulting Staff, Division of Instructional Media, Institute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Switzerland

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Chief Editor

Koyamangalath Krishnan  MD, FRCP, FACP, Paul Dishner Endowed Chair of Excellence in Medicine, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Hematology-Oncology, James H Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University

Koyamangalath Krishnan is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Society of Hematology, and Royal College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
  1. Delsol G, Guiu-Godfrin B, Guiu M, Pris J, Corberand J, Fabre J. Leukoerythroblastosis and cancer frequency, prognosis, and physiopathologic significance. Cancer. Sep 1979;44(3):1009-13. [Medline].

  2. Brochamer WL Jr, Keeling MM. The bone marrow biopsy, osteoscan, and peripheral blood in non-hematopoietic cancer. Cancer. Aug 1977;40(2):836-40. [Medline].

  3. Makoni SN, Laber DA. Clinical spectrum of myelophthisis in cancer patients. Am J Hematol. May 2004;76(1):92-3. [Medline].

  4. Bodem CR, Hamory BH, Taylor HM, Kleopfer L. Granulomatous bone marrow disease. A review of the literature and clinicopathologic analysis of 58 cases. Medicine (Baltimore). Nov 1983;62(6):372-83. [Medline].

  5. Shamdas GJ, Ahmann FR, Matzner MB, Ritchie JM. Leukoerythroblastic anemia in metastatic prostate cancer. Clinical and prognostic significance in patients with hormone-refractory disease. Cancer. Jun 1 1993;71(11):3594-600. [Medline].

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This blood film at 1000X magnification demonstrates a leukoerythroblastic blood picture with the presence of precursor cells of the myeloid and erythroid lineage. In addition, anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, and polychromasia can be seen. Courtesy of U. Woermann, MD, Division of Instructional Media, Institute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Switzerland.
This bone marrow film at 400X magnification demonstrates carcinoma metastasis. Bone marrow cells are completely replaced by large carcinoma cells with clear nucleoli. Courtesy of U. Woermann, MD, Division of Instructional Media, Institute for Medical Education, University of Bern, Switzerland.
 
 
 
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