Bone Biopsy: Results
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Results
A bone biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of bone is taken from the body and looked at under a microscope for cancer, infection, or other bone disorders. It may take several days to get the results because the bone sample needs to be specially prepared for study.
| Normal: | The biopsy sample shows normal bone tissue. |
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| Abnormal: | Bone tissue may show signs of infection, cancer, or another bone disorder (including Paget's disease, osteomyelitis, a bone cyst, or a benign bone growth called an osteoma). The bone tissue may also show osteoporosis or osteomalacia, which means the bones are weak. |
Most cancer of the bone spreads (metastasizes) to the bone from another part of the body, such as the breast, lungs, prostate, or other organs. But bone cancer can also start in the bone itself (such as osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, or multiple myeloma). |
| Last updated: | October 24, 2008 |
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| Author: | Bets Davis, MFA |
| Reviewed By: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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