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Fundamentals of bone marrow examination.

Bone marrow evaluation is an important and effective way of diagnosing and evaluating primary hematologic and metastatic neoplasms as well as nonhematologic disorders. Many variations exist for obtaining marrow samples (sites, instruments, techniques); however, the method outlined in this article has proven reliable. Complete evaluation of bone marrow samples should include a brief patient history, pertinent laboratory data, peripheral blood films, bone marrow aspirate smears and sections, and biopsy imprints and sections. Routine examination of the bone marrow as described previously is usually adequate for interpretation. However, application of additional studies using cytochemical, immunocytochemical, immunohistochemical, cytogenetic, and molecular techniques may prove to be of critical importance in the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Use of combined oral narcotic and benzodiazepine for control of pain associated with bone marrow examination.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy is universally recognized as being painful. Few descriptions of effective analgesia or premedication for this procedure exist. In this study, we assessed an oral narcotic and benzodiazepine combination in controlling pain associated with bone marrow examination. METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive ambulatory, adult patients referred for bone marrow examination received oral medications 90 minutes before the scheduled procedure. Patients reported perceived pain, using both Likert numerical and "Faces Pain Rating Scale," immediately after bone marrow examination and within 1 week after the procedure. Physicians' and nurses' evaluations of patient tolerance and the patients' memories of the aspiration and biopsy were recorded. RESULTS: Two thirds (66%) of the respondents reported none or only mild pain (3 or less on a scale of 1 to 10). Memory of the procedure was vague or nonexistent in approximately half of the patients. There were no complications of biopsies or premedication. CONCLUSIONS: Premedication with oral narcotic and benzodiazepine is effective in preventing or lessening pain associated with bone marrow examination in adults. Premedication induces amnesia for some or most of the procedure in about half of the patients.

Administration, Oral↗

A pathologist's perspective on bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: I. Performing a bone marrow examination.

The bone marrow aspirate and biopsy is an important medical procedure for the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies and other diseases, and for the follow-up evaluation of patients undergoing chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, and other forms of medical therapy. During the procedure, liquid bone marrow is aspirated from the posterior iliac crest or sternum with a special needle, smeared on glass microscope slides by one of several techniques, and stained by the Wright-Giemsa or other techniques for micro-scopic examination. The bone marrow core biopsy is obtained from the posterior iliac crest with a Jamshidi or similar needle and processed in the same manner as other surgical specimens. Flow cytometric examination, cytochemical stains, cytogenetic and molecular analysis, and other diagnostic procedures can be performed on bone marrow aspirate material, while sections prepared from the bone marrow biopsy can be stained by the immunoperoxidase or other techniques. The bone marrow procedure can be performed with a minimum of discomfort to the patient if adequate local anesthesia is utilized. Pain, bleeding, and infection are rare complications of the bone marrow procedure performed at the posterior iliac crest, while death from cardiac tamponade has rarely occurred from the sternal bone marrow aspiration. The recent development of bone marrow biopsy needles with specially sharpened cutting edges and core-securing devices has reduced the discomfort of the procedure and improved the quality of the specimens obtained.

Adult↗

Value of routine bone marrow examination for detection of bone marrow relapse in children with standard risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The value of routine bone marrow examination (RBME) in children during and after treatment for standard risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (SR-ALL) was investigated. The clinical symptoms and peripheral blood findings at the time of bone marrow relapse of 28 children were reviewed and compared with those of 28 matched controls in continuous complete remission. Five (45%) children with bone marrow relapse during maintenance therapy and six (35%) after cessation of cytostatic treatment were asymptomatic at the time of relapse. Signs indicative of relapse during treatment were lymphoblast cells in the peripheral blood, thrombocytopenia, hepatomegaly, anemia, or leukopenia in decreasing order of frequency. After cessation of treatment these signs were lymphoblasts in the peripheral blood, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, or leukocytosis. Except for one case with thrombocytopenia, no signs suspicious for relapse were found in the control groups. When each sign was evaluated separately only the presence of lymphoblasts in peripheral blood and hepatomegaly were significant symptoms for relapse after cessation of treatment. The mean percentage of lymphoblasts in the bone marrow at the time of relapse was significantly lower for patients with an unpredicted relapse (46.8%) than patients with clinical and/or laboratory evidence of relapse (79.5%). When lymphoblasts were present in the peripheral blood the percentage of lymphoblasts in the bone marrow was always more than 40%, both during and after cessation of treatment. These data suggest a relation between clinical and laboratory symptoms and progression of the disease. It is concluded that 46% of relapses are detected by RBME in the absence of clinical or laboratory symptoms. This early detection may have a positive prognostic influence with more effective treatment for relapsed ALL.

Adolescent↗

Bone marrow examination in Hodgkin's disease.

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy was performed as part of routine staging in 425 patients with primary Hodgkin's disease. Only seven patients were found to have bone marrow disease by biopsy and only four by aspiration. All these patients had B symptoms and stage III or IV before bone marrow examination. Bone marrow infiltration did not influence treatment decision and there was no association between bone marrow findings and outcome of the disease.

Adult↗

Diagnostic value of bone marrow examination in isolated thrombocytopenia.

Bone marrow examination often is performed to assess isolated thrombocytopenia. A three-year retrospective study demonstrates that bone marrow aspiration in isolated thrombocytopenia predictably shows megakaryocytic thrombocytopenia. Little additional information is obtained by bone marrow examination that cannot be determined by noninvasive tests. In this series, the Jamshidi biopsy did not add significant information to that obtained from the aspirate. The authors conclude that bone marrow examination is not necessary in patients with isolated thrombocytopenia. In acute care hospital patients, the cause of the thrombocytopenia usually is apparent from the clinical history, and bone marrow examination is necessary infrequently.

Adolescent↗

Indications for bone marrow examination.

The indications for bone marrow examination in children are varied and complex. In children who have isolated anemia, marrow examination usually is limited to those who have severe or persistent normocytic anemia in the absence of blood loss or hemolysis. Bone marrow studies are not necessary in children who have reactive lymphocytes; in most children who have leukopenia, leukocytosis, or thrombocytosis; and in many who have ITP. Marrow examination always is indicated when leukemia is suspected, in children who have pancytopenia of unknown etiology, and when metastatic involvement of the marrow is suspected. If one believes that examination of the bone marrow may be indicated, consultation with a pediatric hematologist/oncologist is recommended. The consultant can verify the need for the examination, decide what specific marrow studies should be performed, and suggest what other laboratory studies could be helpful.

Anemia, Aplastic↗

[Bone marrow examination in small cell lung cancer--report of 87 cases].

From Jan. 1984 to May 1986, bone marrow examination was done in 87 cases of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The positive rate of bone marrow metastasis was 19.5% in all, 14.5% for the limited stage and 54.5% for the extensive stage. By bone marrow examination, 11 cases were up-staged from limited to extensive stage, indicating that the bone marrow examination is very important for SCLC clinical staging. Among the 87 cases, 40 were examined by ECT bone scan. The positive rate was 25.0% (10/40) in all, 21.2% and 42.9% for the limited and extensive stages. Statistically, there was no significant difference in the positive rate between bone marrow examination and ECT bone scan. Among patients who were positive both in bone marrow examination and ECT bone scan, X-ray showed bony metastasis only in 2, suggesting that the bone marrow examination and ECT bone scan be superior to X-ray examination. In 17 patients positive for bone marrow examination, 12 were examined by ECT bone scan. Eight gave positive and 4 negative result. In 10 patients positive for ECT bone scan, 8 were positive and 2 negative by bone marrow examination. It is suggested that these two methods be not replaceable but supplementary to each other. However, the bone marrow examination, being exact, simple and practical, is eligible for extensive use.

Adult↗

The utility of bone-marrow examination in HIV-infected adults in South Africa.

We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive case series of 257 adults with HIV infection who had undergone a bone-marrow examination with trephine bone biopsy, to assess the diagnostic usefulness of bone-marrow examination and evaluate possible predictors of a diagnostic examination. Bone-marrow examination was positive in 97 (38%) patients and gave a unique diagnosis in 61 (24%). The diseases were tuberculosis (83 patients), Mycobacterium avium complex infection and cryptococcosis (four patients each), and haematological malignancies (eight patients). The yield of the examination was significantly increased, by univariate analysis, in patients with wasting, oral thrush, leukopenia, CD4< or =100/mm3, and granuloma formation on histopathology. Granulomata were present in 113 (44%) patients, of whom 28 (25%) had no specific cause identified. Granulomata occurred in 22 (25%) of 89 patients with CD4 >100/mm3 compared to 36 (51%) of 70 patients with CD4< or =100/mm3 (OR 0.3; 95%CI 0.15-0.62). Of 48 patients with CD4 <50/mm3, 25 had granulomata, including 15 with caseation necrosis. The yield of bone-marrow examination was considerable in our setting. Expanding access to modern blood culture techniques for mycobacteria to primary care level could limit the number of bone-marrow examinations required.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Is bone marrow examination justified in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura?

Bone marrow examination is widely accepted among pediatric hematologists as a mandatory investigation in childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The aim of this procedure is to confirm the presence of megakaryocytes and to exclude other conditions, such as leukemia and aplastic anemia. To assess the need for bone marrow examination, we reviewed the charts of 127 children with presumed ITP and found that bone marrow examination led to a different diagnosis in five (3.9%) of them. All five patients had presented with clinical and/or laboratory features atypical of acute ITP; none had leukemia. The initial clinical and laboratory findings of 50 patients with aplastic anemia also were reviewed; all had features atypical of acute ITP. Proper history and physical examination as well as a complete blood cell count are reliable means of recognizing patients with typical vs atypical features of ITP. Bone marrow aspiration could be limited safely to those patients with atypical features of ITP or to patients being treated with corticosteroids.

Acute Disease↗

The usefulness of diagnostic bone marrow examination in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

To determine the utility of bone marrow examination for the diagnosis of opportunistic infections and lymphoma in patients with known or suspected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we retrospectively reviewed the medical and laboratory records of all patients undergoing diagnostic bone marrow examinations at San Francisco General Hospital between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1989. All marrow examinations of patients with known or suspected HIV infection in which specimens were examined histopathologically and/or microbiologically for opportunistic pathogens or lymphoma were analyzed. Bone marrow examination resulted in the diagnosis of mycobacterial infection in 16% of the patients studied. Blood culture was 77% sensitive and bone marrow culture was 86% sensitive for detecting disseminated mycobacterial infection. This difference was not statistically significant (p greater than 0.05). Disseminated fungal infections occurred in less than 5% of the patients studied, and most were rapidly and accurately detected by examination of stained bone marrow samples. No case of lymphoma was diagnosed by bone marrow examination. Bone marrow examination may be useful for diagnosing opportunistic infections in patients with HIV infection. Mycobacterial blood cultures have a sensitivity comparable to bone marrow cultures in detecting disseminated mycobacterial infections, are less invasive, and may be less costly. Marrow examination is not useful for diagnosing lymphoma but can determine the extent of lymphoma that has been diagnosed by other means.

Bone Marrow Examination↗

The bone marrow examination in breast cancer: diagnostic considerations and clinical usefulness.

Bone marrow examinations were performed on 116 women with primary and metastatic breast cancer and were correlated with the clinical status of the patient and other specific diagnostic modalities. The relative diagnostic efficacy of the marrow biopsy, aspirate smear and clot section was examined, as was the value of serial marrow examinations. A marrow positive for tumor was found in 40% of those with metastatic disease, 55% with positive x-rays, 56% with positive bone scans, but only 4% (1/24) with both scan and x-ray normal. Routine hematologic parameters were of limited usefulness in predicting the finding of a positive marrow. The biopsy was superior to the smear and clot section but aspirated material also had to be analyzed to maximize diagnostic yield. When analyzed qualitatively, i.e., positive or negative for tumor, serial marrow examinations were not useful in assessing the efficacy of antitumor treatment. The potential usefulness of bone marrow examination in patients with breast cancer is discussed.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Methods and prognostic value of bone marrow examination in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

The technique and predictive value for survival of initial and restaging bone marrow examinations in small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung were evaluated by 76 examinations of 72 patients. In 76 examinations, only 2 (2.6%) of the bilateral iliac crest bone marrow examinations revealed tumor cells unilaterally and these two were restaging examinations. If SCC was found in the marrow, bone marrow biopsy was always positive. In no instance was an aspirate positive with a negative bone marrow biopsy. Thus a unilateral bone marrow biopsy is an adequate technique for the initial staging of the bone marrow in SCC of the lung. Survival of patients with or without positive initial bone marrow examinations was not significantly different.

Biopsy, Needle↗

[The importance of bone marrow examination for hemoblastoses].

Morphological bone marrow evaluation is an integral component in staging patients with hematological malignancies. In acute leukemias or myelodysplastic syndromes cytologic examination is crucial since it allows precise analysis on the individual cell level. Histological examination of an iliac crest trephine biopsy is mandatory in malignant lymphomas because of the frequent nodular involvement of bone marrow in these diseases. In recent years magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) has been shown to be a sensitive method for detecting marrow infiltration in a variety of marrow diseases. In malignancies with focal marrow involvement, such as malignant lymphoma, MRT is today a useful complement to morphological bone marrow evaluation.

Acute Disease↗

Role of staging bone marrow examination in children with Hodgkin disease.

PURPOSE: To determine the value of bone marrow trephine biopsy as part of the clinical staging for children presenting with Hodgkin disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of pre-treatment bone marrow examinations was undertaken to examine the value of bone marrow staging in children with Hodgkin disease. The records of 122 children, diagnosed with Hodgkin disease at Texas Children's Hospital between February 1960 and July 1996 were reviewed. Age, sex, complete blood counts (CBC), pathology, and clinical and pathological staging results were tabulated. RESULTS: Information was complete for analysis in 110 patients. Bone marrow trephine biopsies identified Hodgkin disease in 2/110 patients (1.8%). The patients with bone marrow disease had clinical stage IIIB disease prebiopsy. Positive bone marrow biopsy results did not effect a change in therapy, and the small number of positive cases do not allow any prediction as to prognosis. CONCLUSION: There is no role for bone marrow trephine examination in children with clinical stage I-IIIA Hodgkin disease.

Adolescent↗