Here is Your $10 Word for the Week: Myelophthisis

Myelophthisis.

This feels like one of the hardest words to say to me. It’s the random “h” thrown in there that gets me.

Have you heard of myelophthisis before? It’s most commonly used when talking about leukemias that are crowding out the bone marrow.

What do you think you’d find on the CBC in a case where myelophthisis is occurring?

Cytopenias. And if bad enough, pancytopenia (which means anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia). This is because as the neoplastic cells are taking over the marrow, eventually there isn't enough room for normal blood cells to be made anymore.