Bone marrow trephine biopsies: A single centre experience in Eastern India

Abstract

Introduction: Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and trephine biopsy are indispensable diagnostic tools for evaluating hematological and nonhematological disorders in the present era. However, trephine biopsy demands greater technical skills and expertise as compared to BMA alone. In this study, we have analyzed the advantages of carrying out trephine biopsy along with BMA in the same sitting. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective observational study carried out from June 2014 to May 2015. The patients attending hematology and medicine outdoors were screened by detailed clinical examination, laboratory investigations including complete blood counts, peripheral smear, and whenever indicated were subjected to BMA and trephine biopsy in the same sitting. Results: Out of total 570 aspirations and trephine biopsies done, 8% showed inadequate aspirates and diagnosis was based only on biopsy findings. Confirmatory diagnosis of aplastic anemia was done on trephine biopsy in 100% cases. Fifty percent cases of granulomas and 33.3% cases of metastasis were missed in aspiration smears. They were diagnosed on trephine biopsy. All cases of myelofibrosis required trephine biopsy for diagnosis, but aspiration alone was adequate for diagnosis in majority of acute leukemias. Conclusion: Trephine biopsy is mandatory for diagnosis of aplastic anemia, myelofibrosis, and for staging of lymphomas. It specially carries diagnostic value in cases of dry tap and bloody aspirates. Aspiration is simple, has high specificity, and is especially useful for nutritional anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, acute leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

Keywords

• Bone marrow aspiration
• dry tap
• trephine biopsy