Bone marrow Biopsy: Marrow is reached after piercing the bone. In some situations, for example, in children, at the upper end of the hip bone, the marrow can be reached easily, or in the case of adults at the sternum, front bone of the chest. Bone marrow is usually taken from the flat bones as they can be easily pierced compared to the long bones, which are thick and harder.
After infiltrating an anaesthetic fluid in the skin and deeper down, a thick-bored needle is inserted by a rotatory motion from the bone into the marrow. It does not give so much a pain as it does give little discomfort.
This examination provides a clear diagnosis in cases of leukaemia and other bone cancers.