“I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2004 so I know Dr. Khan and the nurses really well. I love them all.”
Bone Marrow Aspiration & Biopsy
Bone marrow is a fatty substance that is found inside larger bones. Bone marrow produces all the different types of blood cells needed for vital functioning. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are all made within the marrow and regulate the rate that these cells are made. Your doctor can evaluate and diagnose the reason behind an abnormal complete blood count by performing a procedure called a bone marrow aspiration and/or bone marrow biopsy.
Bone marrow has a fluid portion and a more solid portion. A bone marrow aspiration is when your doctor uses a needle to withdraw a sample of the fluid portion of your bone marrow. In a bone marrow biopsy, a needle is used to withdraw a sample of the solid portion.
What to expect
When you arrive for your bone marrow exam, we will take you into a patient room.
Your doctor will clean your skin and then give a local anesthetic injection with a small needle to numb the area where the larger needle will be inserted into the bone (usually the hip bone).
A sample of bone marrow is removed, the needle is then removed and a pressure bandage is applied to the site. You will then be observed in our office for thirty minutes to assess you and make certain the bleeding has stopped.
The bone marrow sample(s) is sent to an outside lab where a specially trained physician will examine the blood cells under a microscope and then send a report to your doctor. This usually takes 3-5 working days. Your doctor will discuss the results with you and the treatment options available.
