Bone marrow biopsy in patients with malignant neoplasms other than lymphomas or leukemia

104 patients with various cancer, excluding malignant lymphoma and leukemia, underwent bone marrow biopsy using a Jamshidi needle, regular type. In 100 patients an adequate pice of bone marrow was obtained. In 24 patients metastases were detected in the bone marrow. Metastases were found in 10 of 38 (26.3%) patients with breast cancer, in 5 of 17 (29.4%) patients with lung cancer, in 5 of 10 (50%) patients with cancer of the prostate, in 1 patient with rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 with chordoma and in 2 of 14 patients who underwent biopsy in search of unknown cancer. 71% of the patients with positive findings in the bone marrow had clinical signs of bone involvement, 80% had positive X-ray film and 78.9% had positive skeletal isotope survey. Hemogram, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium level and sedimentation rate were of no value in predicting whether the marrow was involved or not. No complications were documented following biopsy. The use of the Jamshidi bone marrow biopsy needle for staging and early detection of metastases in a select group cancer patients is suggested.