Bone marrow examination - A clinicopathological study of 150 patients in a tertiary care hospital at Guntur (AP)

Abstract

Background:Bone marrow examination is generally indicated for staging, diagnosis, therapeutic and prognostic monitoring of various hematological and non hematological disorders.In recent times there was study rise inbone marrow indication for follow up cases than for initial diagnosis. It is important not only for morphological evaluation but also for ancillary studies which provides valuable data for diagnostic and therapeutic endeavors.The main aim of our study is to find out changing trends in indications of bone marrow study in a tertiary care center. Methods:Fifty seven cases for which we have done both aspiration and biopsy were studied and findings are compared morphologically. Later in some cases where ever was possible the morphological diagnosis is correlated with ancillary studies and recorded the findings. Pathological diagnosis was correlated with clinical indications of bone marrow examination.Results:Among age groups most of the patients were between 41-50 years and male to female sex ratio was 1.11:1. Most of the bone marrows were performed for pancytopenia work up accounting for 22.80%. Over all 28% were indicated for staging 25% were done for initial diagnosis and 47% were done for follow up/therapeutic response. On microscopic examination most common disease diagnosed in our study was 26.31% cases of iron deficiency anemia and among malignant hematological disorders majority was NHL with 7%.Conclusion:There is an increased incidence of bone marrow examination not only for morphological study but also for ancillary tests like flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and molecular studies which can give more precise and molecular based diagnosis for clinician to reach their therapeutic and prognostic goals.In our study we noted core biopsy is more accurate but aspiration and biopsy both procedures have their own merits and demerits in the aspect of rapidity, accuracy and utilization of material for ancillary studies.