ROLE OF TOUCH IMPRINT AND CORE BIOPSY FOR DETECTION OF TUMOR-METASTASES IN BONE-MARROW

A total number of 248 bone marrow trephine biopsies were reviewed and 21 paired biopsies and touch imprints were identified to estimate the role of these two diagnostic methods for detection of tumor metastases from nonhematologic malignancies in the bone marrow. The study period ran between January 1, 1993, and June 1, 1996. Eight histology sectio ns and eight touch imprints were prepared from every case and were rev iewed by two pathologists independently. In 20 cases, tumor cells were present without a doubt both on cytologic and histologic preparations . In one touch imprint, single cells were suspicious for malignancy, a nd the fnal pathology report was prepared after examination of the his tologic sections. There was no positive biopsy in which the imprint wa s negative for tumor cells, and no positive touch imprint in which the biopsy was negative for such a cells. The results from our study show that every one of these approaches has advantages and disadvantages a nd that they have a complementary role for identification of solid mal ignancies in the bone marrow. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.