BILATERAL BONE‐MARROW EXAMINATIONS IN SMALL‐CELL ANAPLASTIC CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG

Abstract

Bilateral bone marrow examinations from the posterior iliac crests were routinely performed as a pretreatment staging procedure in 89 consecutive patients with small cell anaplastic carcinoma, of the lung. Bone marrow involvement was found in 20 patients (22.5%), in 9 (10.1%) only 1 side, and in 11 (12.4%) on both sides. Aspiration was significantly superior to biopsy, being positive in 25 examinations as compared with 14 positive biopsies. Compared with unilateral bone marrow examination the positive findings increased by approximately 30%. Bilateral bone marrow examinations are recommended in patients in whom the detection of bone marrow metastases will have therapeutic implications.