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PA17.1 | Welcome to Aplastic Anaemia & Bone Marrow Examination
Learning Objectives
- Define aplastic anaemia and distinguish it from other causes of pancytopenia
- Enumerate the aetiology of aplastic anaemia including idiopathic, acquired, and inherited causes
- Explain the immune-mediated and intrinsic stem-cell pathogenesis of aplastic anaemia
- Describe the peripheral blood and bone marrow findings in aplastic anaemia
- Apply the Camitta severity criteria to classify disease severity
- Enumerate the indications for bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
- Compare the information obtained from bone marrow aspirate versus trephine biopsy
- Interpret the significance of a 'dry tap' and estimate marrow cellularity from a trephine biopsy
INSTRUCTIONS
Aplastic anaemia is a life-threatening marrow failure syndrome where the stem-cell pool is destroyed, leaving all three blood lineages depleted. Understanding its aetiology, immune pathogenesis, and diagnostic work-up — including bone marrow aspiration and biopsy — is a core Year-2 Pathology competency (PA17.1) that integrates directly with haematology clinical postings. This module builds on Year-1 cell-biology and haematopoiesis, and sets the foundation for recognising and managing marrow failure in clinical practice.
References
- Robbins & Kumar: Basic Pathology, 11th ed., Ch 13 (Red Cell Disorders) (textbook)
- Harsh Mohan: Textbook of Pathology, 8th ed., Ch 12 (textbook)
- Dacie & Lewis: Practical Haematology, 12th ed. (textbook)
Version 2.0 | NMC CBUC 2024