Bone marrow examination: Beneft and complication.

ABSTRACT

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are useful, easily operated procedures in clinical practice. The procedures are helpful for diagnosis, staging and following up of many diseases. In spite of the decline of their roles in stem cell transplantation, they had been used as a part of bone marrow transplantation in the past. The capability of bone marrow examination, from either aspiration or biopsy, in establishing or supporting diagnosis, in the cases with abnormal complete blood count (CBC) is higher than that with normal complete blood count (CBC) (50-90% VS 8-9%). Complications are rare. From this study we find 3 in 4,347 episodes (0.07%). Thrombocytopenia and hematoma at puncture site are found in all of them. High caution should be paid in these patients when bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are considered.