Cytogenetic analysis of human hematopoietic cells using bone marrow aspirates is a common practice in hematology. Improvements in cell culture and treatment techniques have identified a number of recurrent abnormalities in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. But even more data are available for leukemias and lymphomas than for solid tumors because of the relative ease of obtaining bone marrow or peripheral blood samples in patients with leukemia.

 

Cytogenetics laboratories use short-term cultures of bone marrow punctures not only for the diagnosis of hematopoietic disorders, but also for the prognosis of specific tumors and the selection of effective treatments.

Bone marrow chromosome analysis is performed to detect acquired chromosomal abnormalities associated with hematological disease processes, such as acute leukemia, myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative disorders, and myelodysplastic syndromes.