[Prognostic value of bone marrow biopsy in chronic myeloproliferative disorders]

The aim of the present research was to verify the prognostic value of some histologic bone marrow parameters in chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Diagnostic bone marrow biopsies were revised in 38 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia, 30 with polycythemia vera, 14 with essential thrombocythemia and 16 with idiopathic myelofibrosis-myeloid metaplasia. An unfavourable clinical evolution was associated to "granulocytic" histotype in chronic myeloid leukaemia, to "erythrocytic/granulocytic and/or megacaryocytic" histotype in polycythemia vera, to "cluster" distribution of megacaryocytes in essential thrombocythemia, to classical myelofibrosis without osteomyelosclerosis in myelofibrosis-myeloid metaplasia. Bone marrow biopsy in chronic myeloproliferative disorders provides independent diagnostic and prognostic data; we support its routine execution in this group of hematologic malignancies.