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Normal reticulin level in iliac bone marrow
1Department of Pathology, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA.
Insights
Normal bone marrow reticulin levels are low, with most patients falling into grades 0-1 on the Bauermeister scale. This finding is crucial for accurately diagnosing hematologic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Reticulin staining is used to assess bone marrow fibrosis.
- Quantifying reticulin in normal bone marrow is essential for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the normal range of reticulin in iliac bone marrow.
- To grade reticulin levels in hematologically normal individuals.
Main Methods:
- Bone biopsy specimens from 100 normal patients were analyzed.
- Reticulin stains were graded using the Bauermeister scale.
Main Results:
- The normal amount of marrow reticulin is low.
- 27% had grade 0, 42% grade N, 27% grade 1, and 4% grade 2.
- No patients exhibited grade 3 or 4 reticulin levels.
Conclusions:
- Establishing normal reticulin ranges is vital for diagnosing hematologic disorders.
- The Bauermeister scale provides a reliable method for grading reticulin.
Abstract:
While the level of marrow reticulin may be a factor that is used when the presence of a hematologic disorder is being considered, to our knowledge no study has graded the amount of reticulin present in normal iliac bone marrow. Grading reticulin stains of bone biopsy specimens from 100 hematologically normal patients documented that the normal amount of reticulin in the marrow is low. Twenty-seven percent of the patients had marrow reticulin grade 0 using the Bauermeister scale, 42% had grade N, 27% had grade 1, and 4% had grade 2; no patient had a Bauermeister grade 3 or 4 reticulin level. Knowledge of the normal range of reticulin is essential when the reticulin level is used as a factor in evaluating the possibility of a hematologic disorder.
