ABOUT
What is bone marrow and what does it do?
Bone marrow is the soft, spongy material at the center of the bone that produces many of the important components of blood, such as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
How is a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy done?
Bone marrow aspirations and biopsies are usually taken from the right or left hip, but sometimes from the sternum (breast bone). The physician (or the Physician Assistant--PA) will inject the biopsy site with a local anesthetic. This anesthetic will cause a temporary numbing of the site that will go away in about four hours. The doctor (or PA) then inserts a special hollow needle into the bone and suctions out a small amount of the bone marrow. Then with the same needle, he/she removes a tiny piece of bone. The marrow and bone specimens are sent to a pathologist for analysis. Results are usually available within a week.
Why is it necessary to have a bone marrow biopsy?
This test is done to diagnose conditions of the blood and blood-making tissues.
AFTERWARDS
After your bone marrow, the testing area will feel like a bad bruise for the next 2-3 days.
- Keep area Clean and Dry for 24 hours.
- Check Band-Aid later today. If oozing, hold pressure until it stops and replace Band-Aid.
- Keep Band-Aid on for three days.
- Call if you experience:
- excessive bleeding
- fever (temperature greater than 101)
- increasing soreness or tenderness
- drainage
- increasing redness.
- Take Tylenol for pain.
As always, please call if you have any questions.