Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration

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Bone marrow biopsy

Illustration showing a needle suctioning out liquid bone marrow from the hipbone

In a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, a doctor or nurse uses a thin needle to remove a small amount of liquid bone marrow, usually from a spot in the back of your hipbone called the posterior iliac crest. A bone marrow biopsy is often taken at the same time. This second procedure removes a small piece of bone tissue and the enclosed marrow.

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