Atlas of Bone Marrow pathology: Metastatic Infiltration of the Bone Marrow

+ Introduction

+ Support

+ Bone Marrow Pathology

Metastatic Infiltration of the Bone Marrow

Introduction

Metastatic infiltration of the bone marrow with solid tumours is relatively frequent (28 – 85%). Sarcomas most often infiltrate the marrow of children and adolescents (Ewing´s sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma) and neuroblastoma, while adult bone marrow is most often infiltrated with carcinomas (breast, prostate, lung, etc.).

Trephine biopsy indications in oncology: suspected metastatic cancer, staging, post-treatment monitoring.

Histology

Histological image matches the primary tumour but metastasis may me less differentiated. It is possible (with certain probability) to determine the primary tumour by the appearance and immunohistological characteristics of the metastases.

The determination of the primary tumour may not be reliable and is nearly always expensive. Therefore it is usually better to determine tumour origin using different methods (clinical examination, screening methods).

Pictures

Diffuse gastric carcinoma, bone marrow infiltration: Dissociated carcinoma of the stomach, infiltration of the bone marrow, HE 100x (72552) Diffuse adenocarcinoma of the stomach, bone marrow infiltration, PAS 100x (72607)

Carcinoma of the breast, bone marrow infiltration: Carcinoma of the breast, bone marrow infiltration, HE 100x (72554)

Paroxysmal night hemoglobinuria: Paroxysmal night hemoglobinuria, PAS 100x (72784)