The utility of end‐of‐treatment bone marrow aspirates in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A quality improvement project

We reviewed the use, results and costs of end‐of‐treatment bone marrow aspirates (EOTBMAs) performed locally in patients diagnosed with ALL between 2000 and 2005. Of 193 patients, 188(97%) received EOTBMAs. Though 15/188(8.0%) patients experienced relapse at a median time of 1.1 years (range 0.1–4 years), no sign of relapse was detected on any EOTBMA. After communication of results to clinical staff, only 2/17 (12%) of patients with ALL finishing treatment in the subsequent 5 months received an EOTBMA ( P  < 0.0001). Our results confirm the futility of EOTBMAs in a large contemporary cohort. Disseminating local results may help ensure adherence to best practices. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 59: 1305–1306. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.