Hypocellular marrow

[mom23]

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?

[Ruth Cuadra]

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

[mom23]

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.

[Neil Cuadra]

Originally Posted by mom23

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.