OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical manifestations and hematologic parameters and observe the cytomorphological features of metastatic tumors in the bone marrow originating from different primary sites.

METHODSThe clinical data of 77 patients with bone marrow metasta tumors admitted between 2009 and 2014 between 2009 and 2014 in General Hospital of PLA were studied retrospectively to analyze the indications of laboratory examinations (hematological laboratory tests, tumor markers, peripheral blood films, and bone marrow aspirates).

RESULTSOf the 77 patients analyzed, 64.9% were over 50 years of age. The most common clinical characteristics were bone pain (65%), anemia with thrombocytopenia (63.6%) and leukoerythroblastic reaction (61%). The hematological abnormalities included elevation of ESR, ALP, LDH, tumor markers, and hypoproteinemia. Cytological examination of bone marrow aspiration samples revealed different morphological characteristics of the metastatic cells from different primary sites; in most of the cases, scattered or clustered metastatic cells and degenerative tumor cells were found on the edge of the bone marrow smears.

CONCLUSIONDetection of the primary tumor site is difficult by cytological examination of bone marrow aspiration samples, but the cytological findings can be of value in the diagnosis of neuroblastoma, small cell lung cancer and gastric cancer (signet ring cell carcinoma). A definite diagnosis of bone marrow metastatic tumor relies on a combined evaluation of the disease history, clinical symptoms and laboratory findings.