Why Might I Need To Have A Bone Marrow Aspiration Needle Procedure?

You may want to have a bone marrow aspiration needle s to identify or diagnose a disease related to your bone marrow. Or, if blood tests show abnormal levels of red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets, you may have a bone marrow aspiration.

Some conditions that may affect your bone marrow include.

Anemia.

Hemochromatosis (iron overload).

Leukemia.

Myelodysplastic syndromes.

Aplastic anemia.

Leukopenia, a disease that causes low white blood cell counts.

Lymphomas, including adult Hodgkin's lymphoma and adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Myelofibrosis.

Tuberculosis.

During cancer treatment, your healthcare provider may use a bone marrow aspiration. A bone marrow aspiration can tell your doctor if the cancer has spread (metastasized) to your bones. It can also be used to help monitor blood cancers.

In some cases, your healthcare provider may use a bone marrow aspiration to check the health of your bone marrow before or after treatment such as a bone marrow transplant.