Bone Marrow Biopsy

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What is a bone marrow biopsy?

Bone marrow is soft spongy tissue found in the hollow interior of your bones. Bone marrow contains stem cells which produces different forms of blood cells:
• White blood cells which create antibodies to fight infection
• Red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body
• Platelets which forms clots to help stop bleeding from an injury
The biopsy involves a sample of tissue taken from inside a bone (usually hip bone) and is thoroughly examined in a laboratory under a microscope in order to detect any abnormal cells.
A bone marrow biopsy is done to investigate the condition of your blood cells and bone marrow. You may be asked for a bone marrow biopsy if you have an abnormal blood cell count. Results from the test can help to diagnose abnormal conditions such as bone marrow disorders, anaemia and cancer cells. Cancers that can affect bone marrow include Leukaemia, Lymphomas and Myeloma.

The Procedure

Blood pressure and heart rate is assessed by your healthcare professionals. Typically you will be asked to lay on your stomach or your side and the skin over the hip bone, just below the waist, will be cleansed with an antiseptic fluid. During this procedure you will be fully awake however a local anaesthetic is injected into the area of skin to numb the area which may sting for a few seconds, before the injection a sedative drug can be provided to reduce anxiety and relax the body.
Generally an aspiration test follows next, a needle attached to a syringe is inserted into the anaesthetised skin to draw one or several samples of liquid bone marrow, there may be a slight stinging included. Subseque...

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...at the punctured site

Results

Your sample is sent to a laboratory to be examined by a pathologist or haematologist. Results can take up to two weeks to come back but generally you should receive your results within a few days. Normal results will consist of an ordinary number of cells in the bone marrow, abnormal results can consist of an odd number of cells which can also include cancer cells. Abnormal results can lead to clinical decision making, in which a clinician forms a diagnosis.

Following the operation

Any queries, worries or complaints should be followed up with the hospital or your GP. For further information please visit: http://www.nhs.uk Works Cited

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bone-marrow-biopsy/ http://www.patient.co.uk/health/bone-marrow-biopsy-and-aspiration http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/121745/clinical-decision-making

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