Diagnostic Yield and Spectrum of Findings from Bone Marrow Aspiration Among Adults in JUMC, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) is a vital diagnostic tool for evaluating hematologic abnormalities, including both malignant and non-malignant disorders. Despite its routine use, there is limited local data on the diagnostic yield and spectrum of BMA findings in Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) from September 2020 to September 2023. Medical records of 114 patients aged 14 years and above who underwent BMA were reviewed. Data were collected using a structured checklist and analyzed with SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sociodemographic data, clinical indications, BMA findings, and laboratory parameters. Result: The majority of patients were female (57%) with a mean age of 33.7 years (SD = 16.72). Pancytopenia or bicytopenia were the most common indications for undergoing BMA (62.3%), followed by leukocytosis (14.0%) and anemia (13.2%). The most frequent BMA findings were inconclusive results (27.2%), trilineage hematopoiesis (22.8%), and erythroid hyperplasia (16.7%). Inconclusive results were higher among those evaluated for isolated anemia. Among hematologic malignancies, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (8.8%), acute myeloid leukemia (7.0%), and chronic myeloid leukemia (5.3%) were more common. Hematologic malignancies showed high rates of anemia (88.9%), leukocytosis (59.3%), and thrombocytopenia (74.1%). Conclusion: Bone marrow aspiration is useful in diagnosing a broad spectrum of hematologic conditions. However, a notable proportion of inconclusive results highlights the need for improved procedural techniques and diagnostic support. The study emphasizes the importance of BMA in evaluating pancytopenia and leukocytosis, while its diagnostic value in isolated anemia appears limited.