Micrometastasis in bone marrow in breast cancer

Bone marrow trephine biopsy (BMB) was done in 57 consecutive cases of breast cancer in order to detect micrometastasis. In 46 cases, presenting for the first time, tumor cells were seen in the bone marrow in nine (19.5%) cases. Out of 11 cases who presented with recurrence, micrometastasis was detected in seven (63.6%). Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) could detect only two of these sixteen positive cases. Immuno peroxidase staining or Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA) helped picked up three cases which were negative on routine Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain. BMB is indicated in the evaluation of breast cancer at diagnosis and at relapse.