Definition

Noun: A chronic disorder of the bone marrow characterized by the replacement of normal marrow tissue with fibrous (scar) tissue, which impairs the marrow's ability to produce normal blood cells. This often leads to anemia, enlargement of the spleen, and the production of blood cells in other organs like the liver.

Usage

The term is used exclusively as a medical noun to name the specific disease. * The patient's fatigue and enlarged spleen were consistent with a diagnosis of myelofibrosis. * Myelofibrosis is often classified as a type of myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Advanced Usage

• Primary myelofibrosis: Refers to the condition when it arises on its own, not as a result of another bone marrow disease.
• Secondary myelofibrosis: Refers to the condition when it develops as a complication of other disorders, such as polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia.

Variants and Related Words

• Myelofibrotic (adjective): Pertaining to or affected by myelofibrosis.
  • The biopsy showed myelofibrotic changes in the marrow.

Synonyms

• Agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (an older, less common term for the same condition).
• Idiopathic myelofibrosis (another historical term, largely replaced by "primary myelofibrosis").

Related Phrases

• Bone marrow fibrosis: A descriptive phrase for the key pathological feature of myelofibrosis.
• Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN): The broader category of diseases to which myelofibrosis belongs.

Noun

1. fibrosis of the bone marrow