Premium
Problem of tumor cell identification in the bone marrow
Author(s) -
Emerson Charles P.,
Finkel Harvey E.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(196611)19:11<1527::aid-cncr2820191111>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - medicine , bone marrow , malignancy , bone marrow examination , cancer , pathology , cytology , disease
The ability to identify cancer cells accurately by the simple technique of bone marrow aspiration is of great potential value, both clinically and in the investigation of many basic aspects of neoplastic disease. Previous workers have reported success in distinguishing exogeneous tumor cells from indigenous bone marrow elements but controlled studies have not been done. Therefore, a prospective study was performed to determine whether or not, on the basis of cytologic criteria now available, tumor cells can be identified reliably and with consistency in human bone‐marrow aspirates. A series of marrow specimens from 100 unselected patients, with and without neoplastic disease, was examined without knowledge in any case of the patient's status. The validity of every marrow diagnosis was tested on the basis of information obtained from follow‐up clinical examinations during a 3 1/2 to 5—year period. The results demonstrated, that contrary to earlier and more optimistic reports, examination of bone‐marrow aspirates by current cytologic techniques is not generally of practical value in the definitive diagnosis of nonhemic malignancy. The identification of the tumor cells undoubtedly present in the bone marrows of many patients with overt or inapparent cancer awaits technical progress in preparation and examination of the specimens.