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The utility of end‐of‐treatment bone marrow aspirates in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A quality improvement project
Author(s) -
Gupta Sumit,
Crump Hannah L.,
Alexander Sarah
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.24204
Subject(s) - medicine , blood cancer , lymphoblastic leukemia , bone marrow , cohort , pediatric cancer , pediatrics , leukemia , cancer , surgery
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.