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February 8, 2012
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Bone Marrow Biopsy

Medical Author:
Troy M Falck, MD
Coauthor:
Darilyn Campbell Falck, MD
Medical Editor:
Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Jeter (Jay) Pritchard Taylor III, MD

Bone Marrow Biopsy Introduction

Bone marrow is the spongy material found in the center of most large bones in the body. The different cells that make up blood are made in the bone marrow. Bone marrow produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Along with a biopsy (the sampling of mostly solid tissue or bone), an aspiration (the sampling of mostly liquid) is often done at the same time.

  • Why the procedure is performed: A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy procedure is done for many reasons.

    • The test allows the doctor to evaluate your bone marrow function. It may aid in the diagnosis of low numbers of red blood cells (anemia), low numbers of white blood cells (leukopenia), or low numbers of platelets (thrombocytopenia), or a high number of these types of blood cells.

    • The doctor can also determine the cause of some infections, diagnose tumors, determine how far a disease, such as lymphoma, has progressed, and evaluate the effectiveness of chemotherapy or other bone marrow active drugs.

  • Where the procedure is performed: Bone marrow aspirations and biopsies can be performed in doctor's offices, outpatient clinics, and hospitals. The procedure itself takes 10-20 minutes.

Risks

You will be asked to sign a consent form before the procedure. You will be notified of the alternatives as well as the potential risks and complications of this procedure.

Possible risks include these:

  • Pain after the procedure
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Bone Marrow Biopsy

Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy »

Test Overview

A bone marrow biopsy removes a small amount of bone and a small amount of fluid and cells from inside the bone (bone marrow). A bone marrow aspiration removes only the marrow. These tests are often done to find the reason for many blood disorders and may be used to find out if cancer or infection has spread to the bone marrow.

  • Bone marrow aspiration removes a small amount of bone marrow fluid and cells through a needle put into a bone. The bone marrow fluid and cells are checked for problems with any of the blood cells made in the bone marrow. Cells can be checked for chromosome problems. Cultures can also be done to look for infection.
  • A bone marrow biopsy removes bone with the marrow inside to look at under a microscope. The aspiration (taking fluid) is usually done first, and then the biopsy.

A bone marrow aspiration can also be done to collect bone marrow for medical procedures, such as stem cell transplant or...

Read the Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy »

The procedure known as trepanning, or trephination, of bone is the oldest surgical practice that continues to have clinical relevance inmodern times.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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