MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF BONE MARROW ASPIRATES IN VARIOUS TYPES OF CYTOPENIA(S) AT SAIDU TEACHING HOSPITAL, SWAT

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To find and document clinico-hematological features of bone marrow aspirates in
patients presenting with various forms of cytopenia(s) at Saidu Teaching Hospitals Swat.
STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study.
PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was carried out over a period of one year (1st
January 2013 to 31st December 2013) at Pathology department, Saidu Medical College, Saidu Sharif,
Swat.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Total 200 patients of both genders and all age groups with
cytopenias referred from Saidu Teaching Hospital for bone marrow cytology were included for bone
marrow aspiration and assessment.
RESULTS: Two hundred patients underwent bone marrow sampling procedure. Patient’s age ranged
from 6 months to 90 years. There were 56% male and 44% female at the ratio of 1.5:1. The most
common non malignant hematological condition was megaloblastic anemia 28%, mixed nutritional
deficiency anemia 16%, hypoplasia 8%, hemolytic anemia 7%, iron deficiency anemia was present in
6% cases, visceral leishmaniasis 4%, thrombocytopenia due to any cause (immune thrombocytopenic
purpura (ITP)) 2%, anemia of chronic illness was present in 2% cases, malaria and sepsis leading to
cytopenia were 1% each. Malignant neoplasms in our study were 50 cases (25%), which were comprised
of; ALL 10%, AML 5%, CML 4%, MDS 3%, multiple myeloma 1.5% and lymphoproliferative
disorders in 1% cases.
CONCLUSION: This study showed the pattern of morphological features on bone marrow aspiration,
which was found to be different from pattern seen in European and Middle East regions and similar to
that found in Asian subcontinent.
KEY WORDS: Cytopenias, pancytopenia, bicytopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, megaloblastic
anemia, acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome.