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Bone marrow core biopsy in 508 consecutive patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: Assessment of potential value
Author(s) -
HidalgoLόpez Juliana E.,
KanagalShamanna Rashmi,
Quesada Andrés E.,
Gong Zimu,
Wang Wei,
Hu Shimin,
Medeiros L. Jeffrey,
Bassett Roland L.,
d’Orcy Elizabeth,
Yin C. Cameron,
Cortes Jorge,
Jabbour Elias J.,
Kantarjian Hagop M.,
BuesoRamos Carlos E.
Publication year - 2018
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/cncr.31663
Subject(s) - medicine , biopsy , myelofibrosis , bone marrow , myeloid , myeloid leukemia , pathology , gastroenterology
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is based on characteristic clinical and laboratory findings and the presence of BCR / ABL1 in the blood and/or bone marrow (BM). The utility of BM core biopsy in the workup of patients with CML has been questioned. METHODS The potential added value of BM biopsy versus aspiration in the workup of a single‐institution series of 508 patients with CML at their initial presentation was systematically assessed. BM biopsy was considered essential when it was needed to establish the disease phase, often because blast counts derived from aspirate smears were misleading because the biopsy specimen was more representative of the disease. BM biopsy was considered helpful if it was needed for other nonessential reasons. RESULTS In 127 patients (25%), BM biopsy was either essential (109 patients) or helpful (18 patients). Patients with accelerated‐phase (AP) or blast‐phase (BP) disease often required a biopsy related to essential reasons. High‐grade myelofibrosis (MF) was more frequent in patients with AP/BP disease than patients with chronic‐phase disease ( P = .0005), and the identification of BP disease required a BM biopsy assessment in 75% of the patients ( P = .001). A follow‐up BM evaluation more often yielded inadequate aspirates in patients with inadequate BM aspirates at the time of their initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS BM core biopsy remains valuable in the workup of 25% of patients with CML because it facilitates identification of the disease phase or MF. The initial grade of MF is associated with the disease stage and outcome after therapy. BM biopsy is, therefore, indicated for patients with CML who have AP/BP disease or other findings suggestive of progressive disease.