A comparison of bone-marrow aspiration and skeletal roentgenograms in the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma

Abstract

HE present study of bone-marrow aspira-T tion as a part of the total evaluation of the patient with neoplastic disease was undertaken with several objectives in mind. These included: (1) a determination of the frequency with which evidence of bone-marrow involvement by metastatic carcinoma could be documented by this technique, (2) a comparison of the results of bone-marrow aspiration and the conventional skeletal roentgenograms in the diagnosis of metastatic bone disease, and (3) a preliminary evaluation of the procedure as a criterion of operability in patients with presumed "early" carcinoma.