Pattern of bone marrow involvement in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma experience from a tertiary care center in north India

Bone marrow (BM) examination is an important investigation for staging or primary diagnosis of malignant lymphomas. The frequency of BM infiltration by lymphoma is quite variable. There are limited data available from developing countries on the pattern of BM involvement in patients of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The aim of this study was to see the pattern of BM involvement by B-Cell NHL from a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India. All cases of B-cell NHL with BM involvement were included in this study. Peripheral blood smear, BM aspiration, and biopsy were performed for diagnosis and staging in all patients. Diffuse involvement of marrow was more frequent than nodular in aggressive lymphomas compared to indolent ones. In patients with B-cell NHL, BM involvement is more common in the indolent disease. The pattern of diffuse marrow involvement is more common in our region