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Bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
- Article from:
- Clinical Reference Systems
- Article date:
- May 24, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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What is a bone marrow or stem cell transplant?
A bone marrow transplant (BMT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) is a treatment for certain types of cancer and bone marrow disorders. Bone marrow is spongy tissue in the center of many bones. It produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs and distribute this oxygen to the rest of the body. White blood cells fight infections. Platelets are necessary for blood to clot.
Stem cells are young blood cells in the bone marrow that can become red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Most bone marrow stem cells are in the marrow, but ...