Bone Biopsy

Biopsy, Bone

Results

A bone biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of bone is taken from the body and looked at under a microscope for cancer, infection, or other bone disorders. It may take several days to get the results because the bone sample needs to be specially prepared for study.

Bone biopsy

Normal:	The biopsy sample shows normal bone tissue.
Abnormal:	Bone tissue may show signs of infection, cancer, or another bone disorder (including Paget's disease, osteomyelitis, a bone cyst, or a benign bone growth called an osteoma). The bone tissue may also show osteoporosis or osteomalacia, which means the bones are weak.
	Most cancer of the bone spreads (metastasizes) to the bone from another part of the body, such as the breast, lungs, prostate, or other organs. However, bone cancer can also start in the bone itself (such as osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, or multiple myeloma).

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: February 4, 2007
Medical Review:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology
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