Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy

Biopsy, Bone Marrow

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Having a recent blood transfusion or treatment with medicines that have iron in them.
• Having had radiation treatment in the past to the site where the bone marrow sample is removed. Fewer bone marrow cells or fibrous (scar) tissue may be seen.
• Being obese. Taking a bone marrow sample from the pelvic bone of an obese person may be hard. It may be easier to use the front of the hipbone (anterior iliac crest) or the breastbone (sternum).

Sometimes not enough bone marrow fluid is collected in a bone marrow aspiration. This is called a dry tap. If this happens, a biopsy to obtain bone marrow tissue is usually done.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Kathe Gallagher, MSW Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: March 21, 2007
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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