Bone marrow biopsy incomplete

[Cusube1967]

Hi , I’m new in the web. My platelets always are high so my doctor order the bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. He suspects is ET. The fluid aspiration was done easy but the core or solid sample was not able to be obtained even though the nurse tried 3 times . Somebody can tell me if this is normal or usual or if this could be an indicator of another disease. I didn’t have de change to speak with the doctor yet.

[Jm954 Administrator]

hi there,

Sometimes the biopsy can be difficult if the bone is nice and hard (depends on age to some extent) but if ET is suspected then the liquid biopsy should give them all the information they need as long as it is bone marrow and not just blood as can happen sometimes.

Don’t worry too much

Jackie

[Cusube1967 in reply to Jm954]

Thank you Jackie

[SofiaDeo]

I have had times when my marrow crumbled when trying to get a sample, and it took a number of tries to get a good one. It didn't seem to correlate with much in terms of disease being "bad" or "good". I've had a number of bone marrow biopsies during the 11 years of my disease, so I am not sure it means much except your bone marrow was not cooperating with attempts to get a sample from that spot. Possibly, the person trying to do it wasn't super experienced with difficult to extract bone marrow.

[Cusube1967 in reply to SofiaDeo]

Thank you Sofia

[LeoPa]

I take it you don't have CLL?

[Cusube1967 in reply to LeoPa]

I don’t know. It’s my first bone marrow test. In the blood tests the platelets are the only ones are out of range (hight) but the doctor order the flow and molecular/ cytogenetic análisis and the fluid aspiration was obtained but not the solid sample for the biopsy. So that’s why I was thinking that maybe this happened because I have a more serious condición . The physician said the bone was soft and the needle did not enter . I didn’t hear from my doctor yet . I called the office to speak with him he was busy

[LeoPa in reply to Cusube1967]

Once the flow cytometry results are in you will know. Try not to worry to much till then.

[Cusube1967 in reply to LeoPa]

Thank you

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to Cusube1967]

it doesn’t seem right that the bone was soft but they couldn’t get the sample because the needle wouldn’t enter. It should have entered more easily. It is important that the needle goes in the right place.

Perhaps you’ll learn more when you speak to your doctor.

[SofiaDeo in reply to Jm954]

It may have been marrow crumbling or fibrosis or other problem, as opposed to needle not getting in. I never heard of it, until it happened to me a few years ago. She finally got a good enough sample, but it did take several tries.

Disease can cause bone marrow biopsy difficulty getting a good sample

[Cusube1967 in reply to SofiaDeo]

Yes , I think it should be something also . Thank you

[Newdawn Administrator]

Hi Cusube,

this explains the ET your doctor suspects

;mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

It’s one of the Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and as such different in presentation to CLL where the platelets decrease not increase. As a result not many of our members will be able to assist you with this particular condition. I think you need to pursue things further with your doctor for clarification. It’s a manageable condition once identified and the appropriate treatment given. I have a relative who has ET and all is well.

Newdawn  

[Cusube1967 in reply to Newdawn]

Thank you