Complementary Role of Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

The present study was aimed to compare the results of Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and Bone marrow trephine biopsies (BMB) and by that to prove the complementary role of both techniques to each other. The evaluation of many haematological and non-hematological illnesses requires a bone marrow investigation. Bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy are the two most common methods utilised for diagnosis, and they complement each other when done simultaneously. This retrospective study reviewed a total number of 74 cases of bone marrow examination received in the department of pathology of our institution from Jan 2019 to August 2020. All aspirations were stained by Giemsa and iron stain while all biopsy were stained by routine H&E stain. Reticulin stain and IHC markers were used as and when required. Bone Marrow examination play a key role in case of various hematological as well as non hematological diagnosis. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy using standard staining procedures, fixation, embedding and cutting techniques, generally complement each other with the aspirated smear being primarily used for cytologic details while biopsy sections mainly useful for cellularity, fibrosis, architectural pattern, metastatic deposits and from the same tissue we can go for Immunohistochemistry. While performing BMA and BMB simultaneously, good technique should be kept in mind to maximise material yield and limit patient discomfort by not repeating the procedure due to insufficient material, as this is a somewhat uncomfortable invasive procedure.