Cytologic findings and diagnostic yield in 92 dogs undergoing fine-needle aspiration of the pancreas

Abstract

Abstract. The diagnosis of pancreatic disease in small animal veterinary patients is complicated by nonspecific clinical signs and the limitations of diagnostic testing. Pancreatic cytology is a potential diagnostic tool, but safety and diagnostic yield are not well characterized in large patient cohorts. We hypothesized that pancreatic fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in dogs would frequently generate diagnostic-quality samples and subsequent adverse medical events would be uncommon. Ninety-two client-owned dogs undergoing pancreatic FNA for clinical diagnostic evaluation were identified retrospectively by a computer search for pancreatic cytology submissions. Archived slides were reviewed by a single board-certified clinical pathologist using a predetermined descriptive scheme. Medical records were reviewed for adverse events 48 hr following FNA, for concurrent procedures and diagnosis in patients with adverse events and for histology results. Diagnostic yield was calculated as the % cases in which a cytologic diagnosis could be achieved; correlation with histology or other confirmatory testing was determined when possible. Diagnostic yield was 73.5%, and the major pathologic process identified cytologically correlated with confirmatory testing in 10 out of 11 cases. There were 7 adverse events, all in dogs with significant comorbidities or undergoing other invasive procedures. Pancreatic FNA in dogs has a good diagnostic yield and a low rate of clinical complications in a large case series of dogs. Correlation of cytology and histology results was high in a limited number of cases.

Safety of percutaneous ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration of adrenal lesions in dogs: Perception of the procedure by radiologists and presentation of 50 cases

“…A similar retrospective study was recently conducted to investigate the incidence of complications of percutaneous US-guided FNA of the pancreas in dogs. 50 In this study, the percentage of complications following the procedure was also low (6.3%), similar to our results and those of Sumner et al (2018),…”

“…In addition to the aforementioned recently published study, no other studies are available in the veterinary literature regarding complications adrenal aspiration. A similar retrospective study was recently conducted to investigate the incidence of complications of percutaneous US‐guided FNA of the pancreas in dogs . In this study, the percentage of complications following the procedure was also low (6.3%), similar to our results and those of Sumner et al (2018), suggesting that these techniques are not as dangerous as it is commonly believed.…”

ACVIM consensus statement on pancreatitis in cats

“…74 Pancreatic acinar cells deteriorate quickly, because of release of digestive enzymes, making rapid cell preservation imperative. 75…”

Suspected pancreatic carcinoma needle tract seeding in a cat

“…4,5 The accuracy of cytology for investigating pancreatic lesions in dogs and humans has a reported diagnostic yield of 70-95%, and is thus considered a valid and important technique. [6][7][8][9][10] A case-control study assessing the safety of FNA of the pancreas in 73 cats with ultrasonographic evidence of pancreatic disease, including 33 cats that had pancreatic masses/nodules, compared with 63 cats that had FNA of abdominal organs other than the pancreas, found no significant difference in the incidence of complications, with complication rates of 11% and 14%, respectively. Complications included haemorrhage, hypotension, respiratory distress and pleural effusion.…”