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Updated: Oct 31, 2025
Femoral Bone Marrow Aspiration in Live Mice
Published on: July 5, 2014
An observation of a potential metastatic mimic in bone marrow aspirate smears
Prabhu Gouda1, Sujaya Mazumder1, Anandhi Anbalagan1
1Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India.
Abstract:
We present an interesting observation of crushed erythroid precursors in bone marrow aspirate smears mimicking metastatic deposits. These artefactual clusters could be due to anticoagulation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic and also due to shearing forces exerted on the cells during aspiration and smearing. It is important to be aware of this potential mimic as in a given clinical context it can get misdiagnosed as metastasis.
Insights
Bone marrow smears can show crushed erythroid precursors that mimic cancer metastasis. Awareness of this artifact, caused by anticoagulants or cell damage, is crucial to prevent misdiagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Hematopathology
- Cytopathology
Background:
- Bone marrow aspirate smears are critical for diagnosing hematologic disorders and identifying metastatic cancer.
- Accurate interpretation relies on recognizing normal cellular morphology and pathological changes.
Observation:
- An artifactual appearance of crushed erythroid precursors was observed in bone marrow aspirate smears.
- These cell clusters resembled metastatic tumor deposits.
Findings:
- The artifactual clusters are potentially caused by ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) anticoagulation.
- Shearing forces during aspiration and smearing can also contribute to this cellular artifact.
Implications:
- This observation highlights a potential diagnostic pitfall in bone marrow examination.
- Misinterpretation can lead to incorrect diagnosis of metastasis, impacting patient management and treatment decisions.
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