[Value of bone marrow trephine biopsy in evaluating the extent of small cell lung cancer]

Bone marrow metastases using Jamshidi needle were found before treatment in 28 of 146 small cell lung cancer patients (19.2%). Bone marrow was a sole site of distant metastases in 3.4% of all cases and in 8.2% of those with no metastases in other organs. Patients with bone marrow involvement had more often metastases in 3 or more organs and had significantly more often liver metastases as well. Bone marrow infiltration was more often observed in patients with poor performance status and with disseminated disease, but was also found in 4 of 47 patients with good performance status and without metastases in other organs. Bone marrow trephine biopsy should be included in staging procedure in small cell lung cancer patients with good performance status, without metastases in other organs and with abnormalities in peripheral blood picture.