Miriam Sandeep Eden
BACKGROUND Bone marrow aspirations and simultaneous use of bone marrow biopsies are important diagnostic procedures done in various haematological and non-haematological disorders. A comparative study of both the procedures done simultaneously was retrospectively reviewed in 50 cases with clinical correlation with BMA and BMB results. The advantage of each method is analysed. The objectives of the study were to assess the diagnostic value of the BMA and BMB and role of both the procedures to reach final diagnosis when done simultaneously and its correlation with clinical data. MATERIALS AND METHODS BMA and BMB were performed on 50 patients. Criteria of inclusion included the main indications for performing this procedure, the availability of full medical records and patient consent. The patients had a male to female sex ratio of 1.8:1 and a wide age range from 5 years to 76 years. RESULTS In the present study, the main indications for bone marrow examination were categorized. Out of 50 cases studied, in 33 cases, a strong positive correlation between BMA and BMB was noted. However, it was found that in the cases of aplastic anaemia, different phases of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), multiple myeloma, metastatic diseases, tubercular granulomas and haemato-lymphoid neoplasm, involvement of the marrow was detected better in bone marrow biopsies. Many of BMB aided with special stains and IHC came with better outcome. CONCLUSION The study concludes that preparations of aspirate and trephine biopsy are easy, rapid and complementary to each other in majority of the lesions. The advantage of both the procedures done together enabled us to study the cytomorphology of the cells along with the pattern of distribution of the cells depending on the cases, hence help in making the diagnosis accurately.
