Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cytology signs of liver fibrosis in dogs from 22 cases
By Masserdotti, Carlo & Bertazzolo, Walter·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2016·Laboratorio di Analisi Veterinarie S.Marco, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cytologic features of hepatic fibrosis in dogs: a retrospective study on 22 cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs diagnosed with liver fibrosis had liver cell samples examined to identify specific features that could help diagnose this condition more easily. The study found that higher numbers of certain cells, called spindle cells and mast cells, were present in dogs with liver fibrosis compared to those without. The researchers established specific ratios of these cells to liver cells that could accurately indicate the presence of fibrosis. This means that veterinarians may be able to diagnose liver fibrosis using a simple cell sample rather than more invasive tests.
People also search for: dog liver disease symptoms · dog liver fibrosis diagnosis · liver cell analysis in dogs
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Liver cytology has diagnostic value for the identification of neoplastic and nonneoplastic hepatic diseases. However, so far the diagnosis of fibrotic changes has traditionally been restricted to histopathology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the cytologic features that may help in the recognition of hepatic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytologic smears from the liver of dogs histologically diagnosed with hepatic fibrosis (Group A) were selected and compared to liver smears from dogs without hepatic fibrosis (Group B). A differential count of hepatocytes, spindle cells, mast cells, granulocytes, lymphocytes/plasma cells, and macrophages was documented for each case, and means for the fibrosis and nonfibrosis group were compared. RESULTS: The relative and total numbers of spindle cells and mast cells were significantly higher in the fibrosis group than in the nonfibrosis group. The optimal cutoff point for the spindle cells to hepatocytes ratio was 0.107 (ie, one spindle cell per 10 hepatocytes), with 95.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the cytologic diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. The optimal cutoff point for the ratio mast cells to hepatocytes was 0.04 (ie, 4 mast cells per 100 hepatocytes) with 86.4% sensitivity and 90% specificity. DISCUSSION: The presence of relatively and absolutely increased numbers of spindle and mast cells in hepatic cytology provides a rational basis to identify fibrosis of hepatic parenchyma. Based on a reasonable sensitivity and specificity, the cytologic diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis seems feasible.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27159883/