top of page

BackTable / VI / Article

Bone Marrow Biopsy Procedure

Author Dr. Chris Beck covers Bone Marrow Biopsy Procedure on BackTable VI

Dr. Chris Beck • Updated Jan 2, 2024 • 569 hits

The bone marrow biopsy procedure is a minimally invasive technique used to evaluate bone marrow health and diagnose conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, anemia, or other blood-related disorders. Performed under local anesthesia, this procedure involves extracting a small sample of bone marrow, typically from the hip bone, for detailed laboratory analysis. It is an essential diagnostic tool that helps healthcare providers understand the cause of abnormal blood counts and develop targeted treatment plans. The bone marrow biopsy procedure is a safe and effective method, offering critical insights into hematologic health while ensuring patient comfort throughout the process.

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Table of Contents

(1) Pre-Procedure Prep

(2) Bone Marrow Biopsy Procedure Steps

(3) Post Bone Marrow Biopsy Care

Pre-Procedure Prep

Bone Marrow Biopsy Indications

• Hematologic disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, anemia, etc.

Contraindications

• Few if any
• A bone marrow biopsy procedure can be performed in setting of thrombocytopenia
• Cellulitis at skin entry site or underlying soft tissue infection should prompt evaluation for different site

Pre-Procedural Evaluation

• H&P
• Prior imaging cross sectional imaging of the pelvis

backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg

Listen to the Full Podcast

BM BX Devices: Jamshidi vs. OnControl with Dr. Aaron Fritts and Dr. Christopher Beck on the BackTable VI Podcast
Ep 1 BM BX Devices: Jamshidi vs. OnControl with Dr. Aaron Fritts and Dr. Christopher Beck
00:00 / 01:04

Stay Up To Date

Follow:

Subscribe:

Sign Up:

Bone Marrow Biopsy Procedure Steps

Site

• Most common site for a bone marrow biopsy procedure is iliac wing.

CT Guided Bone Marrow Biopsy

• Prone patient with posterior approach
• Advance needle along length of the iliac wing.
• For right iliac wing biopsy, operator stands on patient's left and skin entry site is midline with lateral trajectory
• Seat needle just beyond cortex. Occasionally, helpful to have mallet to assist with seating the needle beyond the cortex
• Remove inner stylet. Aspirate with large volume syringe (20 - 30 mL)
• Following aspiration, advance biopsy device without inner stylet into iliac wing 2-3 cm,
• Can be helpful to gently rock biopsy device to help capture specimen. Many devices have additional tools to assist with specimen capture

Following Successful Aspirate and Bone Biopsy

• Hemostasis with compression
• Apply sterile dressing
• Option to take final pictures confirming no immediate post operative complication

backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg

Post Bone Marrow Biopsy Care

Bone Marrow Biopsy Complications

• Rare
• Bleeding is most common
• Injury to surround structures
• Patient's can be sore 2-3 days following procedure
• Inadequate sample

Bone Marrow Biopsy Recovery Time

• 15 minutes bedrest if local only
• Often times, moderate sedation will necessitate more recovery time than actual biopsy

backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg
backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg
backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg
backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg
backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg
backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg
backtable-ad-placement-wide-banner.jpg

Additional resources:

[1] Cohen MG, McMahon CJ, Kung JW, Wu JS. Comparison of Battery-Powered and Manual Bone Biopsy Systems for Core Needle Biopsy of Sclerotic Bone Lesions. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2016;206(5):W83‐W86. doi:10.2214/AJR.15.15067
[2] Lee RK, Ng AW, Griffith JF. CT-guided bone biopsy with a battery-powered drill system: preliminary results. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013;201(5):1093‐1095. doi:10.2214/AJR.12.10521
[3] BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2017, April 14). Ep 1 - BM BX Devices: Jamshidi vs OnControl [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi

Podcast Contributors

Cite This Podcast

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2017, April 8). Ep. 1 – BM BX Devices: Jamshidi vs. OnControl [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

Disclaimer: The Materials available on BackTable.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

backtable-ad-placement-desktop-skyscraper.jpg
backtable-plus-vi-cta.jpg

Podcasts

BM BX Devices: Jamshidi vs. OnControl with Dr. Aaron Fritts and Dr. Christopher Beck on the BackTable VI Podcast

Articles

Topics

Bone Marrow Biopsy Podcasts

Get in touch!

We want to hear from you. Let us know if you’re interested in partnering with BackTable as a Podcast guest, a sponsor, or as a member of the BackTable Team.

bottom of page