Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Accuracy of ultrasound spleen tests in dogs and cats
By Ballegeer, Elizabeth A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2007·Department of Surgical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Correlation of ultrasonographic appearance of lesions and cytologic and histologic diagnoses in splenic aspirates from dogs and cats: 32 cases (2002-2005).
Plain-English summary
A group of 29 dogs and 3 cats underwent ultrasound-guided needle biopsies of their spleens to check for abnormalities. The study found that while cytology (cell analysis) often matched the results from histology (tissue analysis), there were cases where the cytology was not definitive or incorrect. In particular, multiple nodules were more likely to indicate cancer, while single nodules were often benign. This method is useful for getting samples with less invasive procedures, but sometimes a more detailed tissue analysis is needed for an accurate diagnosis.
People also search for: dog splenic tumor diagnosis · cat spleen biopsy results · ultrasound-guided splenic aspiration in pets
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of cytologic diagnosis, compared with histologic diagnosis, in determination of disease in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates of splenic lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Splenic specimens from 29 dogs and 3 cats. PROCEDURES: Records were searched for dogs and cats that had undergone ultrasound-guided splenic aspiration. Criteria for inclusion were ultrasonographic identification of splenic lesions and cytologic and histologic evaluation of tissue from the same lesion. Cytologic samples were obtained by fine-needle aspiration, and histologic specimens were obtained via surgical biopsy, ultrasound-guided biopsy, or necropsy. RESULTS: Cytologic diagnoses corresponded with histologic diagnoses in 19 of 31 (61.3%) cases and differed in 5 of 31(16.1%) cases, and 1 aspirate was inadequate for evaluation. In 7 of 31 (22.6%) cases, histologic evaluation of tissue architecture was required to distinguish between reactive and neoplastic conditions. On the basis of histologic diagnosis in 14 animals with nonneoplastic conditions, the cytologic diagnosis was correct in 11 cases, not definitive in 2 cases, and incorrect in 1 case. In 17 animals with malignant neoplastic diseases, the cytologic diagnosis was correct in 8 cases, not definitive but consistent with possible neoplasia in 5 cases, and incorrect in 4 cases. Multiple similar-appearing nodules were significantly associated with malignancy, whereas single lesions were more often benign. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ultrasound-guided aspiration of splenic lesions is a minimally invasive tool for obtaining specimens for cytologic evaluation. Although cytologic diagnoses often reflect histologic results, if missampling or incomplete sampling occurs or tissue architecture is required to distinguish between reactive and neoplastic conditions, accurate diagnosis with fine-needle aspiration may not be possible.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17331053/