Alternate Names: Biopsy - bone marrow

How Performed: The bone marrow biopsy may be done in the health care provider’s office or in a hospital. The sample is usually taken from the hip bone. The skin is cleansed, and a local anesthetic is injected to numb the skin. The biopsy needle is then inserted into the bone. The core of the needle will then be removed, and the needle is pressed forward and rotated in both directions. This forces a tiny sample of the bone marrow into the needle. The needle is then removed. Pressure is applied to the biopsy site to stop bleeding and a bandage is applied.

How To Prepare: Inform the health care provider if you have allergies to any medications, about which medications you are taking, and if you have bleeding problems. The health care provider should also know if you are pregnant. You must sign a consent form.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child’s age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child’s age:

• infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How It Feels: There will be a sharp stinging from the anesthetic injection. As the biopsy needle is being advanced and rotated, there may be a brief, sharp pain.

Risks: Persistent bleeding and infection are rare and can be controlled.

Why Performed: The test is done after abnormal types or numbers of red or white blood cells are found in a complete blood count. The examination may detect the cause of the abnormality, certain types of anemia (not enough red blood cells), cancer in the marrow, and may be used to monitor the response to therapy for some cancers.

Normal Values: The marrow has normal cells that are the correct types and numbers.

Abnormal Results: The results may indicate cancers of the bone marrow (leukemia or Hodgkin’s disease). The results may detect the cause of anemia (too few red blood cells), abnormal white blood cells, or thrombocytopenia (too few platelets).

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• coccidioidomycosis; disseminated
• hairy cell leukemia
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• idiopathic aplastic anemia
• multiple myeloma
• neuroblastoma
• non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• polycythemia vera
• primary amyloid
• primary myelofibrosis
• primary thrombocythemia
• secondary aplastic anemia
• secondary systemic amyloid

Cost:

Special Considerations: This test is often performed when there are problems with the various types of blood cells. The person may be at increased risk for bleeding, infection, or other problems.