Bone marrow ablation

Definition

Bone marrow ablation is a medical procedure that involves the destruction of bone marrow cells, typically using chemotherapy or radiation. It is often performed prior to a bone marrow transplant to eliminate diseased or cancerous cells and make room for healthy donor cells.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Bone marrow ablation is crucial in treating certain cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.
2. The procedure helps prevent the recipient's immune system from rejecting the transplanted marrow.
3. Ablation can lead to severe immunodeficiency due to the temporary elimination of immune cells.
4. Patients undergoing bone marrow ablation are at high risk for infections until their new marrow starts producing immune cells.
5. Post-ablation recovery involves close monitoring and supportive care to manage complications such as infections and bleeding.

Review Questions

Related terms

Immunodeficiency: A condition where the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease is compromised or entirely absent.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: A procedure in which a patient receives blood-forming stem cells to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow.

Chemotherapy:

A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells, often used in conjunction with bone marrow ablation.