[Frequency of bone marrow involvement in patients with small cell lung carcinoma before treatment based on selected...

Bone marrow bilateral biopsy was done in 106 small cell lung cancer patients before treatment. Full blood count, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, serum albumin concentration and serum Na+ concentration were compared according to presence or absence of bone marrow metastases. Decreased red cell count and elevated alkaline phosphatase activity were found significantly more often in the group of patients with bone marrow involvement. Thrombocytopenia and "blast" smear occurred only in patients with bone marrow metastases. Although bone marrow was found more often in association with low albumin level, this was not significant. It was impossible to anticipate the presence of bone marrow metastases on the base of total blood count, examination increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity or decreased serum Na+ or albumin levels. However in the presence of thrombocytopenia and "blastic" smear bone marrow metastases are very probable.