The bone marrow in Hodgkin's disease--a two year study

A total of forty bone marrow trephine biopsies and aspirates were studied from thirty five patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease during the two year period 1994 and 1995. Of these twenty five were at the time of diagnosis of the disease and fifteen after treatment. The biopsies were studied for incidence of involvement as well as associated findings in both the positive and negative biopsies. A comparison of the trephine biopsy with marrow aspirate with respect to yield of positivity was made. Five patients (20%) at the time of diagnosis and two (13.33%) after treatment showed involvement of the marrow. None of the seven corresponding aspirates were positive for involvement showing that biopsies were superior to aspirates in detecting marrow infiltration in Hodgkin's disease. Suppression of the marrow, fibrosis and lymphocytic aggregates were the other findings in positive biopsies. Eosinophilia and myelosuppression were notable changes in the negative biopsies. One biopsy also showed granulomas. The probable significance of these findings are also discussed.