Bone marrow is extracted through a procedure called bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy, which involves inserting a needle into the bone to collect a sample.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
- Preparation: The area of the body where the bone marrow will be extracted (usually the hip bone) is cleaned and numbed with a local anesthetic.
- Bone Marrow Aspiration: A special biopsy needle is inserted through the skin and into the bone. The doctor then uses a syringe attached to the needle to withdraw a small amount of liquid bone marrow. Patients typically feel pressure as the needle enters the bone and may experience a brief, sharp pain during the aspiration.
- Bone Marrow Biopsy (Optional): After the aspiration, a slightly larger needle may be used to collect a small core sample of solid bone marrow tissue. This is the biopsy part of the procedure. The process is similar to the aspiration, but it collects a tissue sample instead of liquid.
- Post-Procedure: After the samples are collected, pressure is applied to the site to stop any bleeding. A bandage is then applied. Patients can typically return home the same day but may experience some soreness at the extraction site for a few days.
Essentially, bone marrow extraction utilizes a needle to aspirate liquid marrow and/or biopsy solid marrow tissue directly from the bone.
