Role of bone marrow trephine biopsy in the diagnosis of marrow involvement in Hodgkin's disease.

Bone marrow involvement in Hodgkin's disease alters the stage and hence the prognosis and treatment modality. Seventy-six patients of biopsy proven Hodgkin's disease in whom a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were done simultaneously at the time of diagnosis were included in the study. Bone marrow involvement was seen in 14 (18%) cases. All 14 cases were diagnosed on biopsy. Only one aspirate was suspicious of involvement. Rest was either diluted (28%) or was normal (64%). Eleven patients were upstaged from stage I, II and III to stage IV. All patients had cytopenia of one or more cell line. Increased fibrosis, necrosis and a polymorphic cellular infiltrate were associated findings in the marrow. We wish to highlight the importance of bone marrow trephine biopsy over aspirate in staging even clinically early stage Hodgkin's disease.