Myelodysplastic syndromes in Latin America: State of the art

Abstract

Latin America is a group of countries that covers an area of approximately 19 197 000 km2. In 2016, itspopulation was estimated at more than 639 million. The prevalent languages are Spanish andPortuguese.Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are a heterogeneous group of myeloid neoplasms characterized byabnormal differentiation and maturation of myeloid cells, bone marrow failure, and genetic instability withenhanced risk of transforming to acute myeloid leukemia.The incidence rates for MDS in Europe and the United States range from 3 to 5 per 100 000 personyearsand increase markedly with age to 20 per 100 000 person-years for those older than age 70 years.Despite the absence of epidemiologic data, Latin America also has an aging population, as with otherdeveloped countries, and an increasing rate of secondary MDS from previous toxic exposure not only asa consequence of treating other malignancies but also as a result of environmental or occupationalfactors. Diagnosis and treatment remain difficult because of the high number of economic andtechnological disparities within and among Latin American countries.