Myelodysplastic syndromes are not lymphomas, but myelodysplasia can occur in lymphomas.
1. Myelodysplasia usually refers to myelodysplastic syndrome, a hematologic malignancy. Myelodysplastic syndromes originate in the bone marrow and are characterized by pathological hematopoiesis of the bone marrow, an elevated percentage of primitive cells (but less than 20%), and a decrease in peripheral blood cells.
2. Lymphoma, on the other hand, is a malignant hematologic disease originating in lymph nodes or lymphoid tissues, with painless progressive lymph node enlargement as the characteristic manifestation of the disease. However, as the disease progresses, lymphoma may invade the bone marrow hematopoietic system, causing myelodysplastic manifestations, such as anemia and thrombocytopenia.
The diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes relies on tests such as bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, whereas the diagnosis of lymphoma relies on the pathologic examination of lymph node biopsy.
Therefore, myelodysplastic syndromes are not lymphomas. It is recommended that patients with myelodysplastic syndromes should consult the hematology department in a timely manner, complete the tests such as bone marrow aspiration to clarify the stage of the disease, evaluate the condition and prognosis, and then formulate an individualized treatment plan under the guidance of the physician for active treatment.