Bone Marrow Biopsy Operator Experience and Impact on Aspirate, Biopsy, and Ancillary Testing Quality

To assess the relationship between bone marrow (BM) biopsy operator experience and both specimen quality and ancillary testing utilization.

We evaluated all referred and in-house (IH) BM biopsy specimens obtained over a contiguous 6-week period from April 3, 2017, to May 19, 2017. The BM specimens were assessed for the length of interpretable marrow, and aspirates were assessed for the presence of spicules. Subgroup comparisons included IH BM obtained by a trained team of nurses within our institution, patients clinically referred (CR) to our institution with outside-obtained BM specimens, and outside pathologist-referred (PR) consultation cases. Ancillary study usage was compared between the first 100 cases of each group.

A total of 1191 BM specimens were analyzed, including 600 IH, 288 CR, and 303 PR cases with biopsies and/or aspirates. The average interpretable biopsy lengths of IH, CR, and PR cases were 16.0 mm, 10.0 mm, and 7.0 mm, respectively (P<.001). World Health Organization-recommended length of 15 mm or more was achieved in 61.4%, 26.6%, and 19.1%, respectively (P<.001). Of the aspirates analyzed among IH, CR, and PR cases, 93%, 71.3%, and 73.5% contained spicules, respectively (P<.001). Use of immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, karyotype, and fluorescence in situ hybridization was higher in CR and PR cases than in IH cases (all P<.05). The IH, CR, and PR cases used on average 1.5, 2.8, and 4.8 immunohistochemistry stains per case (P<.001).

Having a dedicated team of BM biopsy operators is likely one factor contributing to improved BM biopsy quality and a reduced need for ancillary testing.