A Descriptive Study of the Use of Bone Marrow Biopsies in a Paediatric and Young Adult Population: A Tertiary Hospital Experience

Introduction: Bone marrow biopsy is important in the management of both primary haematological disorders and non-haematological disorders of the bone marrow. These disorders could be non-neoplastic, bone marrow infiltrative lesions or primary neoplastic disorders of the bone marrow.

Aim: To establish the role of bone marrow biopsy in the management of haematological and non–haematological disorders in paediatric population.

Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study, spanning from January 2017 to November 2023. All consecutive bone marrow biopsy samples of children within the study period were included in this study.

Results: During the study period, January 2020 to December 2023, a total of 40 bone marrow biopsies were done in paediatric patients 18years and below. Suspected acute leukaemia was the most common indication. The commonest histological diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukaemia followed by aplastic anaemia. All the bone marrow biopsies submitted for histology had pathological diagnoses giving a diagnostic utility of 100%. There was 90% concordance between bone marrow biopsy and bone marrow aspirate.

Conclusion: Bone marrow biopsy is safe in children and the uptake should be encouraged among physicians to aid patient management.