[cslatosch]

Bone marrow biopsy - dry taps?

by cslatosch on Tue May 19, 2015 10:02 pm

Just wondering how many of you had dry pockets (called dry tap) when they were trying to do a bone marrow biopsy (BMB)?

I just had one today and, after three tries, they were able to find some marrow to extract. The doctor was kind of shocked to find dry pockets with my smoldering multiple myeloma diagnosis.

Just curious if this is something anyone is familiar with.

[Eric Hofacket]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy - dry taps?

by Eric Hofacket on Wed May 20, 2015 12:13 am

Your experience was exactly the same as mine. My first bone marrow biopsy at my initial diagnosis three years ago took three attempts. The first two were dry, and a sample was obtained on the third. I was stage three, though – not smoldering.

[cslatosch]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy - dry taps?

by cslatosch on Fri May 22, 2015 7:39 pm

Hi Eric,

Quick question - Did you know you were Stage 3 before your BMB?

[Eric Hofacket]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy - dry taps?

by Eric Hofacket on Mon May 25, 2015 2:39 pm

I did not know I was stage 3 before I had my first bone marrow biopsy where the three dry taps occurred. Though my oncologist told me at a later time that the dry taps were not a good sign. Beyond that, I really do not know the significance of a dry tap. Maybe even in people with no marrow disease a dry tap is possible, I really do not know.

[YBartist]

Re: Bone marrow biopsy - dry taps?

by YBartist on Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:33 pm

I recently had a bone marrow biopsy for mastocytosis. The tech had to try 2 or 3 times to find drawable marrow. I don't know if age makes a difference: I'm 68.