[brandyjoco]

Bone marrow aspiration vs. bone marrow biopsy?

by brandyjoco on Thu Oct 08, 2015 9:59 am

My husband, 54 is diagnosed with MGUS. However, the skull xray showed 2 lucent areas on his skull. The doctor will be doing a bone marrow aspiration on October 20 including a genetic testing on the marrow. If the plasma % > 10% then he will order a PET scan.

Is a bone marrow aspiration different from a bone marrow biopsy? If so, is it as accurate in diagnosis of MGUS versus smoldering multiple myeloma?

Also, can the bone marrow aspiration results be quite a bit higher than what the results of the blood results show, or should the results be quite a bit similar?

Thanks !

[Cheryl G]

Re: Bone marrow aspiration vs. bone marrow biopsy?

by Cheryl G on Thu Oct 08, 2015 5:49 pm

Hi Brandyjoco,

Both the aspirate and bone marrow core provide estimates of the plasma cell percentage in the bone marrow. The estimates can differ, however.

Some doctors feel the (core) biopsy is a more reliable estimate, but the current recommendation is to use whichever of the percentages is the highest as the one that it is used in determining if someone has MGUS or smoldering multiple myeloma.

By the same token, if the results differ enough to matter, some doctors would be hesitant to call the diagnosis clear cut.

Here are a couple of links you may find helpful:

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/what-is-the-correct-plasma-cell-percentage-to-use-t5894.html

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/bone-marrow-biopsy-results-confusing-t5398.html

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/bone-marrow-aspirate-core-biopsy-results-t1704.html

Also, this Wikipedia article does a reasonable job explaining the difference between the aspiration and biopsy procedures:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_marrow_examination

Good luck!

[brandyjoco]

Re: Bone marrow aspiration vs. bone marrow biopsy?

by brandyjoco on Thu Oct 08, 2015 7:22 pm

Cheryl,

Thank you so much for your reply! It is very helpful. I have been reading a lot about all of this as my husband's blood numbers are on the 'low' abnormal for IgG Kappa. He feels good but is always quite tired. However, with the 2 lucent ill defined areas on his skull x-rays and a minor anterior wedging of the L1/L2 vertebrae I want to be sure that the bone marrow aspirate will give clear direction on the next step.

A hematologist/oncologist will be doing the bone marrow aspiration. I was told by City of Hope that a myeloma specialist can meet with us once we get the results.

Thank you for you help.