4 Global Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, 2015, 2, 4-8 E-ISSN: 2408-9877/15 © 2015 Cosmos Scholars Publishing House Indications and Spectrum of Haematological Disorders from Bone Marrow Aspiration Examination: A Three Year Review Study Timothy Amos Ekwere 1,* , Mabel Benson Ino-Ekanem 1 and Olugbemi Oluseyi Motilewa 2 1 Department of Haematology University of Uyo/University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria 2 Department of Community Health University of Uyo/University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria Abstract: Background: Haematological disorders have diverse modes of presentation that often requires bone marrow examination for both diagnosis and management. This simple and relatively safe procedure is important particularly in resource poor centres since access to adjuvant diagnostic techniques are often lacking or absent. This study was conducted to determine the indications and the spectrum of Haematological diseases diagnosed using this procedure. Methodology: This was a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Haematology University of Uyo Teaching Hospital from January 2011 to December 2013. Bone marrow aspiration cytology records of 62 suspected cases of haematological diseases were reviewed and analyzed using STATA software version 10. Results: Majority of the patients who had bone marrow aspiration were adults aged 19 years and above. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. Most (93.5%) of the marrow aspirate examined had definitive pathologic features while 4 (6.5%) were normal marrow elements. The main indications for BMA examination in order of decreasing frequency include; anaemia (37.1%), diagnosis of Leukaemia (30.7%) and pancytopaenia (5.1%). Acute leukaemia was the most common haematological disease diagnosed using this procedure. Acute myeloid leukaemia was twice as common as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Also, mixed nutritional deficiencies occurred more commonly than single nutrient deficiency. Conclusion: The indications for BMA examination in this study are similar to those reported in other studies. This procedure remains a veritable tool in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of haematological diseases especially in a resource poor centre like ours. Keywords: Anaemia, Bone marrow aspiration cytology, Biopsy, Leukaemia. INTRODUCTION Bone marrow examination is an important diagnostic tool in haematology. It is a simple and relatively safe procedure carried out routinely in hospitals for the diagnosis and management of haematological and to some extent non-haematological disorders. In addition, the procedure may be necessary in staging, prognostication and evaluation of therapeutic response in some disorders [1]. A normal bone marrow consists of stem cells which are largely primitive undifferentiated cells that are supported by fibrous tissues called stroma. Bone marrow can be one of two types, red or yellow marrow depending on whether it consists mainly of haemopoietic tissues or fatty tissues respectively. Progressive differentiation and maturation of the primitive stem cells results in specific marrow cell type i.e. Leucocytes, Erythrocytes and Platelets [2]. Diseases affecting the bone marrow may be primary or a secondary spread to the marrow. In both cases the * Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Haematology University of Uyo/University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria; Tel: 234-803-579-1835; E-mail: timothyekwere@yahoo.com normal marrow cellular architecture is distorted. Anaemia is a common presentation in most of these diseases whether haematological or otherwise. Hence, a detailed description of the morphology of the marrow elements may provide sufficient explanation for unexplained cytopaenias, leukaemia, and other haematological disorders including metastases to the bone marrow [1]. Various studies have identified different indications for bone marrow examination. A study by Bashawri LA, identified pancytopaenia, leukaemia, staging of lymphoma among others as the major indications for bone marrow aspiration [3]. In a similar study in Nigeria, Egesie et al, identified anaemia as a major indication for BMA [4]. Therefore, the aims of this current study are to identify the common indications for BMA cytology and the spectrum of Haematological disorders commonly diagnosed using this procedure. METHODOLOGY Study Site The study was conducted at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), a specialist referral