Bone Marrow Test - Trephine Biopsy - IHC Panel

Bone marrow biopsy test

It is a test used to examine bone marrow sample of a person to diagnose various diseases .This test is also called trephine biopsy. Bone marrow is the soft spongy tissue present in centre of most of the larger bones such as hip bone, breastbone and thigh bone. It comprises of various types of cells and blood vessels. Bone marrow is of two types-red and yellow. Red bone marrow has certain cells called stem cells that form red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Yellow bone marrow has fat and certain cells that form cartilage, fat or bone cells.

The different cells play different crucial functions such as-

1. Red blood cells-which carry oxygen in our body to various organs

2. White blood cells-which fight various infections

3. Platelets-which help in clotting of blood

Bone marrow biopsy is a type of procedure where solid part of about1-2 cm, 2-3 mm core of bone marrow is taken out for examination. Trephine biopsy helps to know the structure of bone marrow. Whenever there are certain abnormalities in CBC (complete blood count) test, this test maybe prescribed by your health care provider for further assessment. This test may be helpful to detect a particular suspected disease of bone marrow or blood cells and also to monitor the progression and response to treatment

Bone marrow biopsy test is usually done along with bone marrow aspiration test to detect bone marrow disorders .These both form part of bone marrow examination.

Why is bone marrow biopsy test prescribed?

Your health care provider may prescribe this test to diagnose certain medical conditions like:

• Diagnosis of suspected spread of cancer to bones
• Diagnose myeloproliferative disorders like polycythemia
• Diagnosis of bone disease
• Bone marrow disease like myelofibrosis and myelodysplastic syndrome
• Blood and Bone marrow cancers like leukemia, Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma
• Storage disease like amyloidosis
• Iron storage disorder called hemochromatosis
• Fever of unknown origin
• Evaluate in those patients where inadequate bone marrow aspirate is obtained

Procedure and prerequisites

The bone marrow aspiration procedure is done by a trained health care practitioner/nurse on an outpatient basis under complete aseptic precautions. The bone marrow aspirate is most commonly taken from top rear end of hip bone. In some cases sample may be taken from breast bone or thigh bone. Before taking the sample the area is numbed with the help of local anaesthesia. The vital parameters like blood pressure, pulse and temperature are monitored before, during and after the procedure. A special needle is inserted at the sample site through the overlying skin and underlying soft tissue and bone. The liquid bone marrow aspirate is then taken out by attaching a syringe to the needle. This sample is then sent to laboratory for examination. There may be sharp pain for short duration at the time of procedure. After that pressure is applied with help of bandage to prevent excessive bleeding. Keep the area dry for 24 hours. Contact your health care provider if there is excessive bleeding, fever, extreme pain or swelling after the procedure.