Dorothy FarrarBone marrow biopsy
Bone marrow biopsy is an examination method in which a physician uses a hollow needle to take a sample of the bone marrow, for example on the hip. Subsequently, a laboratory can examine the tissue sample in detail and examine it for various signs of disease.
What is a bone marrow biopsy?
Bone marrow biopsy is very similar to bone marrow puncture. In both procedures, the examiner inserts a needle into the bone marrow, which is usually a flat bone such as the iliac crest or sternum. The examiner removes a piece of tissue via the hollow needle by removing a contiguous part from it: In this way, it is possible to examine the structure of the tissue, which may contain more information about the causes of the disease than individual cells, as the examiner takes during bone marrow puncture.
Applications
Typical applications of bone marrow biopsy:
- Blood diseases
- Lymphoma
- multiple myeloma
A common field of application of bone marrow biopsy is the suspicion of a blood disease that affects the formation of blood. One of the best known of these diseases is leukemia, which is characterized by a disturbance in the formation of white blood cells (leukocytes). The blood cells, which are not fully or incorrectly developed, increase in frequency as the course progresses, thereby causing various complaints.
Leukemia can manifest itself in various forms for this reason, but is typically accompanied by symptoms such as anemia and increased susceptibility to infections as the immune system is compromised. Irritation, bleeding and structural and functional abnormalities of affected organs are also common symptoms of leukemia. The suspicion of lymphoma can also justify bone marrow biopsy. This malignant neoplasm is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is often conspicuous by lymph node enlargement.
If the patient suffers from another cancer, a bone marrow biopsy can also provide evidence of scattering metastases in the bone marrow caused by tumors in other areas of the body. In addition, multiple myeloma and other causes can be considered as a reason for disorders in the hematopoietic system; multiple myeloma affects plasma cells of the blood. Doctors can also use the bone marrow biopsy for follow-up.
What methods and procedures are there?
In bone marrow biopsy, the examiner inserts a hollow needle into the bone and removes a bone marrow cylinder. Doctors refer to the special needle used as the Jamshidi needle. Bone marrow puncture, on the other hand, uses a thinner needle through which the doctor sucks in the cells of the bone marrow to remove them. The advantage of bone marrow biopsy is that it not only provides information about the condition of individual cells, but also provides the examiner with information about the tissue as a coherent structure. Whether a bone marrow puncture or biopsy makes more sense in individual cases is decided by the attending physician.
What does the patient have to consider?
If Allergies or hypersensitivity to certain medications are present, the patient should definitely inform the doctor treating them. This also applies, but not exclusively, to the local anesthetic Used in bone marrow biopsy. Patients need to feel the after effects of the anesthetic and any Sedativestill take into account after the examination; in many cases, the use of sedative medication leads to reduced ability to drive, so that people should not drive themselves, for example. You should also refrain from operating machines, since the drug can impair reaction times and the ability to perceive, among other things – even if the patient is not consciously aware of these limitations.
After the bone marrow biopsy, the patient usually has to stay for about an hour for monitoring. In this way, doctors want to ensure that there are no immediate side effects or, if necessary, that they can take care of them professionally in order to reduce the risk of more serious complications. This monitoring includes, among other things, the measurement of blood pressure and Pulse . The patient can then usually go home.
Execution – How does the investigation work?
Before the examination, the examiner usually explains the procedure to the patient. This can also be done at a previous appointment. Immediately before the examination, the doctor numbs the area where he wants to remove the bone marrow. It may also be necessary to take a sedative if the practitioner and patient consider this to be useful. When the anesthetic takes effect, the skin is incised, the hollow needle is inserted and the tissue is removed.
Doctors usually perform the bone marrow biopsy on an outpatient basis. The actual removal can vary in duration, with the subsequent aftercare and monitoring of the patient taking significantly more time than the actual Biopsy in many cases . After the tissue has been removed, a laboratory usually examines the sample and reports the results to the attending physician, who discusses them with the patient and derives consequences for possible further treatment.
Who bears the costs?
If there is reasonable suspicion of a disease of the blood-forming system, the health insurance company may cover the costs of the bone marrow biopsy. However, the decision depends on the individual case; Patients can therefore talk to their doctor and, if necessary, their health insurance company in advance about the option of covering the costs.
Risks, complications and side effects
The risks of bone marrow biopsy not only differ between individual patients, but also depend on where on the body the doctor performs it. Possible complications include injuries and infections , which can eventually spread throughout the body. In addition, bleeding and inflammation can occur as an unwanted consequence of the examination, especially at the site where a doctor took the tissue sample.
Another potential danger is the spread of tumor cells to other tissue. Since the patient is usually given pain medication and may be taking a sedative for the bone marrow biopsy, there are other potential side effects of the test. The insertion of the needle usually triggers an acute pain stimulus that is stabbing and subsides after a relatively short time.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.