Of drills and bones: Giovanni Ghedini and the origin of bone marrow biopsy

Abstract

Bone marrow (BM) studies are pivotal for the diagnosis of haematological disorders. Their introduction into clinical haematology dates back to the work of Giovanni Ghedini (1877–1959), an Italian physician who first conceived BM sampling in 1908. Ghedini's proposal stemmed from his clinical experience and from the scientific developments that characterised his epoch. By presenting selected passages of Ghedini's publications, this report considers the theoretical and historical bases of his work and analyses its practical implications for modern haematology.