Evaluation of sensitivity and specificity of bone marrow trephine biopsy tests in an Indian teaching hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and bone marrow biopsy (BMB) is an indispensable diagnostic tool for evaluating haematological and non-haematological disorders and patient follow-up in present era. We have compared the advantages of trephine biopsy over bone marrow aspiration in these patients.

Aim and objective: To evaluate sensitivity and specificity of trephine biopsy test for haematological and non haematological disorder patients in comparison to bone marrow aspiration test.

Materials and method: In this 1 year prospective study (June 2014–May 2015), we evaluated the haematological and non-haematological disorder patients by BMA and BMB (aided with I.H.C. when ever needed). The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were calculated.

Results: Among, final 504 hemotological/non haematological disorder patients, 416 cases were diagnosed (+ve) in BMA test, where as it was 494 in BMB test and with chi² test it was highly significant as p = 0.0001. It was concluded that True positive cases were 416, True negative were 9 cases, false negative 78 cases and false positive was in one case only. The sensitivity and specificity of bone marrow trephine biopsy test was 84% and 90% respectively.

Conclusion: BMB (aided with I.H.C) is a gold standard test for detecting different haematological and non hamatological disorders. In our study the sensitivity and specificity of BMB test was 84% and 90% respectively. When performed in association with BMA in the same sitting, significantly augments the chances of reaching a correct diagnosis.

Keywords: Bone marrow trephine biopsy ,Bone marrow aspiration, Sensitivity, Specificity