STERNAL MARROW IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC CANCER

Abstract

SOME TIME ago the chance diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma first made by means of sternal aspiration stimulated my interest in the procedure and led to a search for further information. It seemed probable that metastatic tumor cells could be found in bone marrow more frequently than has been supposed if only the proper search were made. A study of bone marrow smears obtained by sternal aspiration from 32 patients with known or suspected metastatic carcinoma or sarcoma has been carried out in an effort to determine the pattern of reaction of the marrow to cancer. The findings of this study together with a brief review of the available literature are reported. <h3>REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE</h3> Literature in the English language concerning hematologic and cytologic observations in patients with cancer is sparse. Standard texts make only brief mention that occasionally tumor cells may be found on sternal aspiration.¹I have