What is diffuse marrow heterogeneity?

Diffuse marrow heterogeneity refers to the presence of different patterns of bone marrow cellularity and composition throughout the bone marrow. This can be seen on bone marrow biopsies and can be a sign of various underlying conditions, including myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and other hematologic disorders. In diffuse marrow heterogeneity, there may be areas of normal bone marrow interspersed with areas of increased or decreased cellularity, abnormal cell types, or changes in the normal architecture of the bone marrow. The evaluation of diffuse marrow heterogeneity is important for diagnosing and monitoring hematologic conditions.