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Pancytopenia manifests as a decrease in the erythroid, myeloid, and megakaryocytic cell lines that appears as a decrease in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelents on complete blood count analysis.
- Indicates bone marrow failure
- May be due to invasion of marrow by nonneoplastic (such as drugs, chemicals, irradiation, or infections) or neoplastic conditions
- Clinically manifests as pallor, easy fatigability, and weakness due to anemia; purpura, epistaxis, and bruising due to thrombocytopenia; and increased susceptibility to infection due to leukoopenia.
Pancytopenia is an absolute indication for bone marrow aspiration and biopsy to delineate and treat the cause.
References
Gerson SL, Lazarus HM. Hematopoietic emergencies. Semin Oncol. 1989;16:532-542.