Pediatric Myelodysplastic Syndrome Specialty Care

Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are blood disorders that occur mostly in older adults, but occasionally in children. In most cases, MDS worsens over time, with about one third of patients developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

As a national pediatric hematology oncology referral center, our team is one of the most experienced in the world at treating children with MDS. We offer specialized diagnostic and treatment options, including stem cell transplantation. We also conduct research. We are constantly striving to better understand why MDS occurs and to develop new treatments.

Our Expertise

At the Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center's Pediatric Myelodysplastic Syndrome Specialty Care Program, we offer comprehensive care for children with myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative disorders.

Our program recently launched a comprehensive Pediatric MDS and Bone Marrow Failure (BMF) Registry in collaboration with other centers around the country.

Our staff includes pediatric hematologists with expertise in MDS and bone marrow failure and pathologists with specialized training in pediatric hematopathology. Our pediatric subspecialists, such as oncologists and geneticists, will join your child’s care team as needed.

We provide access to chromosomal analysis in order to diagnose myelodysplastic syndromes.

We offer access to the latest treatment options and clinical trials through the Stem Cell Transplantation Program and the Fanconi Anemia and Bone Marrow Failure Multidisciplinary Clinic.

In the News

Durkin Family Overcomes Triple Dose of MDS

ABC News profiles three siblings who are being treated for a rare blood disorder that affects the bone marrow called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Boston Children’s Michelle Lee, MD, PhD, and nurse Julie Waitt, were interviewed about the treatments the sibilings recieved at Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center.

Did you know? Names for MDS

MDS has many names. Here are some of the other names you may hear it called: myelodysplasia, cytopenia, refractory cytopenia, dysplastic syndromes, dysplasiaand pre-leukemia.