Hypocellular marrow
 

My 3 yr old has had 2 bone marrow biopsies---one at 2 yrs old and one at 3 yrs old. Both bmb's show that his cellularity is at 50-60%, but I still don't understand what that is telling me. Is he classified as having bone marrow issues due to the hypocellularity?

Hi, Mom23.

For healthy adults, normal cellularity of the bone marrow is usually 100 minus the person's age. So, 20-year-old would have 80% cellularity and a 70-year-old might have only 30%. When disease is present, those numbers might be higher (hypercellularity) or lower (hypocellularity). I think the formula is somewhat different for children, but the hyper/hypo distinction is still made.

What disease or condition is your child being treated for? What does the doctor say about the significance of 50-60% cellularity in a 3-year-old?

Regards,
Ruth Cuadra

He is being looked at as having Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. Not too much has been said about the hypocellularity except that he will continue to have yearly marrows unless something else shows up.
I am still learning all about the bone marrow stuff.

Another mom, named Joan, posted about Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. You might want to read that forum thread.