Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Accuracy of endoscopic biopsy versus full-thickness biopsy
By Evans, Sarah E et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2006·E & M Bobst Hospital and Caspary Research Institute, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison of endoscopic and full-thickness biopsy specimens for diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary tract lymphoma in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 22 cats with digestive issues underwent tests to find out if they had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or a type of cancer called alimentary tract lymphosarcoma. The veterinarians compared two methods of taking tissue samples: endoscopic biopsies (EB) and full-thickness biopsies (FTB). While the endoscopic method was somewhat helpful for diagnosing stomach cancer, it often failed to accurately distinguish between IBD and small intestinal lymphosarcoma. The study suggests that full-thickness biopsies are more reliable for diagnosing lymphosarcoma in the small intestine, which is where this type of cancer is most commonly found in cats.
People also search for: cat vomiting · cat cancer diagnosis · cat inflammatory bowel disease treatment · cat biopsy results · cat digestive problems
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic biopsy (EB) specimens for diagnosis of alimentary tract lymphosarcoma in cats. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 22 cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or alimentary tract lymphosarcoma. PROCEDURES: Endoscopic biopsy specimens were obtained during endoscopy of the stomach and duodenum immediately prior to laparotomy or laparoscopic surgery, during which full-thickness biopsy (FTB) specimens were obtained. Accuracy of histopathologic diagnoses was compared between EB and FTB specimens. RESULTS: Lymphosarcoma was diagnosed in 10 cats on the basis of FTB specimens. Lymphosarcoma was detected in the jejunum and ileum in all 10 cats, in the duodenum in 9 cats, and in the stomach in 4 cats. In the same 10 cats, EB findings indicated a diagnosis of lymphosarcoma in 3 cats and were suggestive but inconclusive for lymphosarcoma in 3 cats. Lymphosarcoma was correctly diagnosed via gastric EB specimens in 3 of the 4 cats with gastric lymphosarcoma but evaluation of EB specimens led to an incorrect diagnosis of IBD in 4 cats with small intestinal lymphosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: EB specimens were useful for diagnosis of gastric lymphosarcoma but were not adequate for differentiating between IBD and lymphosarcoma in the small intestine. Because the most common sites of alimentary tract lymphosarcoma in cats are the jejunum and ileum, FTB specimens of those sites should be obtained via laparotomy or laparoscopy for accurate diagnosis. Laparoscopy may be a minimally invasive alternative to endoscopy and laparotomy for obtaining diagnostic biopsy specimens.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17078807/