Bone marrow biopsy is a test to evaluate the characteristics of bone marrow cells and is therefore often used to help doctors diagnose and track the progression of diseases such as lymphoma, myelodisplastia or multiple myeloma, as well as to look for infections or identify if there are metastases of other types of tumors there.
Bone marrow biopsy is indicated by a hematologist or oncologist and is usually done to supplement bone marrow aspiration, called a myelogram, especially when this test cannot provide sufficient bone marrow information in a given disease.
- Bone marrow biopsy can be quite uncomfortable.
- As the test is done by taking a sample of the pelvic bone and is therefore performed under local anesthesia that helps reduce discomfort.
Bone marrow biopsy is a very important test because it provides information about the number and characteristics of the cells that make up the bone marrow. This will detect whether the spinal cord is empty or excessively full, if there are deposits of undue substances, such as iron or fibrosis, and observation of the presence of any other abnormal cells.
Thus, bone marrow biopsy can be used in the diagnosis or follow-up of certain diseases, such as:
In addition, a bone marrow biopsy may also be performed to identify the stage of certain cancers and to monitor the progression of the disease.
Most of the time, bone marrow biopsy is performed at the same time as the myelogram, which is taken by taking a blood sample from the bone marrow and aimed at evaluating the characteristics of blood cells produced by the bone marrow. Understand what myelogram is and how it’s done.
The bone marrow biopsy procedure may be performed in the doctor’s office, hospital bed, or operating room, depending on the patient’s health status. It is performed under local anesthesia, however, in some cases, mild sedation may be necessary, especially in children or patients who cannot collaborate with the test.
This procedure is usually done on the pelvic bone, in a place called an iliac crest, but in children it can be performed on the tibia, a leg bone. The test is usually done immediately after bone marrow aspiration is collected, which can be collected at the same location.
During the exam, your doctor inserts a thick needle, specially developed for this exam, through your skin to the inside of your bone, from which a sample of the bone fragment of about 2 cm is taken. This sample will then be placed in lab blades and tubes and analyzed by the hematologist or pathologist.
Bone marrow biopsy is a safe procedure and rarely causes complications such as bleeding and bruising on the skin, but it is common for the patient to experience pain during the exam and up to 1 to 3 days later.
The patient may resume normal activities a few minutes after the test, preferably resting on the day of the exam. No need to change the diet or use of medications, and the dressing at the needle puncture site can be removed 8 to 12 hours after the test.