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Myeloid Neoplasms and Deletion of Chromosome 20
Am J Hematol; ePub 2016 Mar 1; Jawad, Shi, et al
The incidental finding of deletion of the long arm of chromosome 20 (20q-) in the bone marrow generally does not portend an early stage myeloid neoplasm (MN), according to a study of 102 patients with 20q- and a median age of 66 years. Researchers found:
• In 86% of patients, 20q- was an isolated finding.
• 38% of patients previously received chemotherapy and 86% had cytopenias when 20q- was found.
• After a median 35 months, 12 patients developed MNs: 10 myelodysplastic syndromes,1 acute myeloid leukemia, and 1 myeloproliferative neoplasm.
• 0% of patients with normal blood counts, but 20% with mild cytopenias and 9% with moderate/severe cytopenias developed MNs.
• No association was seen between number of metaphases with 20q- and development of MN.
Citation: Jawad MD, Shi M, Oliveira JL, Hoyer JD, Hook CC, Go RS. Clinical course of patients with incidental finding of 20q- in the bone marrow without a morphologic evidence of myeloid neoplasm. [Published online ahead of print March 1, 2016]. Am J Hematol. doi:10.1002/ajh.24347.