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Bone marrow biopsy
Make it clearer
A bone marrow biopsy removes a small cylinder of bone and marrow, much like taking a core from a wall to see how its layers are arranged. The sample usually comes from the back of the hip and is examined under a microscope.
A bone marrow aspiration is different because it collects fluid and loose cells. One sample preserves the tissue’s structure while the other captures its loose contents, so they are often collected together to answer complementary questions.
In brief
A bone marrow biopsy removes a small core of bone and marrow, usually from the back of the hip. Because the sample remains solid, its tissue architecture stays intact for examination under a microscope and for identifying signs of disease.
A biopsy is different from an aspiration. An aspiration collects fluid and individual cells, whereas a biopsy collects a solid tissue core. The two procedures are often performed during the same visit, but their names remain distinct because they provide different kinds of samples.
Sources (1)
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineBone Marrow Tests
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Updated