Diagnostic utility of bone marrow examination in evaluation of fever: a descriptive study on 98 immunocompetent adults from a tertiary care institute in south India

Five-year clinico-laboratory data from 99 (one HIV seropositive) adults (mean age = 41.3 +/- 20.4 years) who underwent bone marrow examination for fever persisting for >= 1 week were analysed and correlated with microbiological characteristics. Infections, reactive marrow changes and haematolymphoid malignancies were most commonly associated with fever. A high concordance rate of 71% was noted between aspiration and trephine biopsies. Bone marrow granulomas (BMG) were seen exclusively on sections and were most commonly of tubercular and typhoidal in origin (two Salmonella Typhi, one Salmonella Paratyphi A). The common aetiologies associated with fever and cytopenia(s) were BMG, acute leukaemia and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH; n = 3). The yield from bone marrow culture was inferior compared to other body fluids. In conclusion, bone marrow histology is superior to smears in the evaluation of prolonged fever. Marrow culture may not be useful in immunocompetent individuals other than if Salmonellosis is suspected.