Multicentric, moderately malignant tumors of the nonchromaffin paraganglia at the site of the aortic body, at other sites of the cardiovascular system, and in the cranial mediastinal lymph nodes were discovered incidentally at autopsy of a 7-year-old female Siamese cat. Metastases were evident grossly in the myocardium, pericardium, and cranial mediastinal lymph nodes, and histologically as tumor emboli in the stromal vessels and in epicardial, myocardial, and pulmonary lymph channels.

The performance of four automated biopsy devices (Bard Biopty, Bard Monopty, Microvasive ASAP 18, Medical Device Technologies Ultra-Cut) was compared when they were used to obtain 96 liver and 96 kidney samples from eight dogs under ultrasound guidance. There was no significant difference in the lengths of the samples obtained with the four devices. The Monopty device yielded a significantly greater mean weight of both kidney (30.8%) and liver (31.6%) samples compared with the other devices. There were no significant differences between the four devices relative to cellular and histologic preservation, crush artifact, and number of renal glomeruli or liver lobules and portal triads. Renal subcapsular hematomas were identified in most instances, and there was no difference between the devices in the amount of renal trauma resulting from their use. There was only one instance of severe injury to the liver. The choice of instrument should remain one of personal preference, since all four devices were satisfactory and none produced significantly greater renal or hepatic injury.