Estimation of bone marrow cellularity using digital image nucleated cell counts in patients receiving chemotherapy

IntroductionBone marrow cellularity under microscopic examination has a wide range of variation. The number of nucleated cells in a certain volume of bone marrow could represent more accurate cellularity. In this study, we compared the cellularity under the microscope with the nucleated cell counts on the biopsy sections to assess the usefulness of nucleated cell count as a representative cellularity marker. MethodsThree hundred and twenty-five bone marrow biopsies were analyzed. Two pathologists determined bone marrow cellularity using digital images with x100 magnification from biopsy sections. Nucleated cell counts on the digital images with x100 magnification were determined using automated cell counting software. ResultsA wide range of variation was observed in the nucleated cell counts among the biopsies with the same cellularity. A good correlation was observed between the cellularity under the microscope (x100 magnification) and the nucleated cell counts (r=0.816, P