DIAGNOSTIC ROLE OF BONE MARROW ASPIRATION AND TREPHINE BIOPSY IN HAEMATOLOGICAL PRACTICE

Objective: To determine the usefulness of bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy in evaluation of the bone marrow in routine haematological practice. Methodology: This study included 443 cases of bone marrow examination, referred to Pathology Department, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar during the period extending from January 2012 till July 2013. All the bone marrow smears and bone biopsy sections were examined in detail. The diagnosis and findings on aspirate and biopsy were evaluated and compared with each other. Results: In 73.8% of the cases the bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy showed same diagnosis i.e., bone marrow aspiration alone was sufficient for diagnosis in these cases. In the remaining 116 (26.2%) cases trephine biopsy sections or touch imprints were found to be necessary in for making final diagnosis. These cases were those of the hypoplastic / aplastic marrows, Myelofibrosis, lymphomatous infiltration and chronic granulomatous inflammation. Conclusion: The study results suggest that both the aspirate and trephine biopsy complement each other. Nutritional anaemias, Haematological Malignancies and Immune Thrombocytopenia can be readily diagnosed by bone marrow aspiration alone. Trephine biopsy is necessary for diagnosing Granulomatous Inflammation and Hypoplastic/Aplastic Anaemia. Also trephine biopsy is required to diagnose Myelofibrosis and Lymphomatous infiltration.