BACKGROUND: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) still remains a diagnostic challenge, while diagnosis may remain obscure for several weeks or months. The role of tissue biopsy is crucial in the diagnostic approach. We report a series of 130 consecutive @entity1 with FUO who had undergone a bone marrow biopsy (BMB). METHODS: Among 280 consecutive nonimmunocompromised @entity1 hospitalized between 1995 and 2005 for a @entity221 of uncertain cause, lasting at least 3 weeks, with no diagnosis after an appropriate minimal diagnostic workup, 130 underwent BMB. RESULTS: Overall, a specific diagnosis was achieved by BMB and histological examination in 31 cases (diagnostic yield, 23.7%). Three types of diseases were found: hematological @entity5 in 25 cases, including 19 @entity1 with @entity706 , 4 with @entity3052 , 1 with @entity5734 , and 1 with @entity1582 ; @entity166 in 3 cases; systemic @entity5310 in 2 cases; and disseminated @entity2883 in 1 case. @entity882 (odds ratio, 4.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-9.30) and @entity417 (odds ratio, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.13-9.34) were the most reliable predictive factors regarding the usefulness of BMB. Bone marrow cultures had very limited value in our cohort. Finally, @entity228 use did not seem to affect the yield of BMB. CONCLUSIONS: Bone marrow biopsy is a useful technique for the diagnosis of prolonged @entity221 in immunocompetent @entity1 . @entity882 and @entity417 seem to be correlated with the value of this test.

Yield of bone marrow examination in diagnosing the source of XXXX of unknown origin.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity417 :: ('MESH:D000740', 'Disease') :: ['anemia'] @entity706 :: ('MESH:D008223', 'Disease') :: ['malignant lymphoma'] @entity5310 :: ('MESH:D008415', 'Disease') :: ['mastocytosis'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['malignant diseases'] @entity5734 :: ('MESH:D007943', 'Disease') :: ['hairy cell leukemia'] @entity882 :: ('MESH:D013921', 'Disease') :: ['Thrombocytopenia'] @entity228 :: ('CHEBI:50858', 'Chemical') :: ['corticosteroid'] @entity3052 :: ('MESH:D015470', 'Disease') :: ['acute leukemia'] @entity1582 :: ('MESH:D009101', 'Disease') :: ['multiple myeloma'] @entity166 :: ('MESH:D003141', 'Disease') :: ['infectious diseases'] @entity2883 :: ('MESH:D014890', 'Disease') :: ['granulomatosis'] @entity221 :: ('MESH:D005334', 'Disease') :: ['fever', 'febrile illness']
@entity221 :: (MESH:D005334,Disease) :: ['fever']
