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Bone marrow aspiration
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Bone marrow aspiration is the test in which a needle is used to take a sample of bone marrow, the soft tissue inside the bones where blood cells are made. It is done to diagnose diseases of the blood.
The usual site is the posterior superior iliac crest, the upper back part of the hip bone, and it is chosen for the person's comfort and safety. The needle is pushed with gentle pressure until it passes through the bone and reaches the marrow cavity, the space inside. A syringe is attached there and the sample is drawn up. The needle enters the bone to draw out the fluid from the blood factory.
What is aspirated is spread onto glass slides to be looked at under the microscope. This is how leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, anemias that have no explanation and myelodysplastic syndromes are studied.
In brief
Bone marrow aspiration uses a needle to obtain a sample of marrow in order to diagnose blood diseases.
The needle is advanced into the marrow cavity, usually at the posterior superior iliac crest, and the sample is drawn up with a syringe.
The needle enters the bone to draw out the fluid from the blood factory.
That material is smeared onto slides, and this is how leukemias, myelomas, lymphomas, unexplained anemias and myelodysplastic syndromes are studied.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingBone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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