PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Wilkins, Bridget S
TI  - Pitfalls in bone marrow pathology: avoiding errors in bone marrow trephine biopsy diagnosis
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.2010.080838
DP  - 2011 May 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 380--386
VI  - 64
IP  - 5
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/64/5/380.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/64/5/380.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2011 May 01; 64
AB  - Avoiding errors in the histological interpretation of bone marrow trephine biopsy specimens requires an unprecedented degree of collaboration between histopathologists, haematologists, specimen requesters, specimen takers, laboratory technical staff and other scientific staff. A specimen of good quality, with full, relevant clinical information is the essential starting point. This must then be processed optimally and investigated appropriately, involving immunophenotyping and molecular testing when needed. A wide range of pathologies may involve bone marrow haemopoietic and stromal components, and a systematic approach to analysing each of the components in turn is required to avoid overlooking abnormalities; correlation with bone marrow cells aspirated in parallel is particularly important. Final interpretation should be a synthesis of the histological findings with information from such haematological and other investigations, interpreted with due regard to clinical context.