Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy
Biopsy, Bone Marrow
Results
A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy removes a small amount of bone and a small amount of fluid and cells from inside the bone (bone marrow). It is often done to find the reason for many blood disorders and may be used to find out if cancer or infection has spread to the bone marrow.
Biopsy results are ready in 1 to 3 days. The bone is put into a solution that breaks down its calcium before it is stained. The bone marrow sample is often treated with special dyes (stains) to see any changes in the blood cells more clearly.
Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration Normal: The marrow has normal amounts of fat, connective tissue, and iron. Normal numbers of both mature and immature (growing) bone marrow cells are present.
No signs of infection are seen.
No cancer cells, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, are seen.
No cancer cells have spread from other cancer sites, such as breast cancer.
Abnormal: The cells in the bone marrow do not look normal.
There are too many or too few bone marrow cells. The bone tissue does not look normal.
Too much iron or too little iron (iron deficiency anemia) is seen in the bone marrow.
Signs of infection are seen in the bone marrow.
Cancer cells, such as leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, are seen.
The bone marrow has been replaced by scar tissue.
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| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: January 29, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology | |
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| Topic Contents | |
| Test Overview | |
| Why It Is Done | |
| How To Prepare | |
| How It Is Done | |
| How It Feels | |
| Risks | |
 | Results |
| What Affects the Test | |
| What To Think About | |
| References | |
| Credits | |