bone marrow biopsy, a microscopic tissue examination with a specimen taken from the iliac crest or sternum used to help evaluate patients with hematologic diseases. The biopsy may be done to confirm a diagnosis of megaloblastic anemia, to diagnose leukemia or myeloma, to determine the cause of reduced red blood cells in the peripheral bloodstream, to document deficient iron stores, to document bone marrow infiltrative diseases such as neoplasm or fibrosis, to identify tumors, or to diagnose a variety of other conditions.
