Bone marrow biopsy is able to study the characteristics of bone marrow cells, so it is often used to help doctors make diagnoses and monitor the evolution of diseases such as lymphoma, myelodysplasias or multiple myeloma, as well as to search for infections or to identify infections whether there are metastases from other types of tumors to this site.
It is possible that this biopsy causes pain at the time of the exam, so it is done with local anesthesia, which helps to ease the discomfort, which can last for about 1 to 3 days. Usually, the exam is done by removing a small piece of bone from the pelvis, which will then be analyzed by the hematologist.
The bone marrow biopsy is indicated by the hematologist, and is usually done to complement the bone marrow aspirate, called a myelogram, especially when this test cannot provide enough information about the bone marrow in a given disease. To learn more about this bone marrow aspirate, check out Myelogram.
When it is needed
Bone marrow biopsy is a very important test, as it provides information about the quantity and characteristics of the cells that make up the bone marrow. In this way, the test will detect whether the spinal cord is empty or excessively full, if there are deposits of undue substances, such as iron or fibrosis, as well as observing the presence of any other abnormal cells.
Thus, some of the diseases that can be diagnosed or accompanied by this exam include:
- Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Check out the symptoms and how to identify the lymphoma; Myelodysplastic syndrome; Chronic myeloproliferative diseases; Myelofibrosis; Multiple myeloma and other gammopathies. Understand what multiple myeloma is and how to treat it; Identification of cancer metastases; Aplastic anemia and other unclear marrow cell decrease causes; Essential thrombocythemia; Research into the causes of infectious processes, such as chronic granulomatous disease.
Bone marrow biopsy is also used to identify the stage of some types of cancer and to search for organs that have been affected by the disease.
How it is done
The marrow biopsy procedure can be done in the doctor's office, in the hospital bed or in the operating room, depending on the patient's health status. It is performed with the use of local anesthesia, however, in some cases mild sedation may be necessary, especially in children or patients who are unable to collaborate with the exam.
This procedure is usually done on the pelvic bone, in a place called the iliac crest, but in children it can be performed on the tibia, a leg bone. Usually, the exam is done right after the collection of the bone marrow aspirate, which can be collected in the same place.
During the exam, the doctor inserts a thick needle, specially developed for this exam, through the skin until it reaches the inner part of the bone, from where a sample of the bone fragment of about 2 cm is taken. then, this sample will be placed in laboratory slides and tubes and will be analyzed by the hematologist.
Risks and care after the exam
Bone marrow biopsy is a safe procedure and rarely brings complications such as bleeding and bruising on the skin, but it is common for the patient to feel pain during the exam and up to 1 to 3 days later.
The patient can resume normal activities a few minutes after the exam, preferably he should rest on the day of the exam. There is no need to modify the diet or use of medications, and the dressing at the location of the needle stick can be removed between 8 and 12 hours after the test.
