Demystifying Bone Marrow
When, why, and how to biopsy this unique tissue
You may have seen it written ominously at the bottom of a pathologist’s comment on their CBC path review, cytology, or biopsy report:
“Consider a bone marrow…”
Many practitioners are wary of sampling bone marrow due to uncertainty over when and how to collect it. In this post, I discuss the indications for bone marrow cytology and/or core biopsy, the basics of collection technique, and how to assess sample quality. By the end, you will be a pro at knowing how to use this test in practice!
Indications for Bone Marrow Assessment
Bone marrow—particularly within the long bones—is the site of hematopoietic tissue that produces all the blood cells in the body. The most basic reasons for evaluating bone marrow are to look for the cause of a hematologic problem. Here are some of the main indications:
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