Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography to detect hepatic and splenic lymphomatous infiltration in dogs and cats

Abstract

Objectives To determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in the detection of lymphomatous infiltration of the liver and spleen in a population of dogs and cats with lymphoma. To determine if specific ultrasonographic features of the liver and spleen in dogs are associated with lymphomatous infiltration or a specific immunophenotype of multi‐centric lymphoma. Materials and Methods A blinded retrospective evaluation of ultrasonographic images of the liver and/or spleen in dogs and cats with cytologically or histologically confirmed lymphoma was performed by two board‐certified veterinary radiologists. Results A total of 161 animals met the inclusion criteria, comprising 132 dogs and 29 cats. Ultrasonography had a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 16.7%, 91.0%, 55.9%, 62.5% and 55.0% for the detection of lymphomatous infiltration of the liver, and 73.1%, 93.9%, 82.6%, 93.4% and 74.7% for the spleen. In dogs, an ultrasonographically normal liver was associated with not having lymphomatous infiltration, leopard‐spotted splenic parenchyma and splenomegaly were independently associated with lymphomatous infiltration and leopard‐spotted splenic parenchyma was also associated with the B cell immunophenotype of multi‐centric lymphoma. Clinical Significance Ultrasonography of the spleen and liver is specific but not sensitive in the detection of lymphomatous infiltration. A leopard‐spotted splenic parenchyma in dogs is highly specific for lymphomatous infiltration and in this population predicted a specific immunophenotype of multi‐centric lymphoma.

Hematological and blood biochemistry parameters as prognostic indicators of survival in canine multicentric lymphoma treated with COP and L-COP protocols

“…Second, as this was a retrospective study, stage IV lymphoma was mainly classified based on the ultrasonographic appearance of hepatic and splenic involvement. While cytology or histopathology is the gold standard for diagnosing hepatic and splenic involvement in this disease, previous studies have shown that the ultrasonographic appearances of the spleen and liver, particularly a leopard-spotted splenic parenchyma, provide high specificity in detecting lymphomatous infiltration [ 51 , 52 ]. Third, all dogs were diagnosed with multicentric lymphoma based on cytological results, with most of them classified as having high-grade lymphoma according to the Kiel cytological classification.…”

Effect of needle gauge on pain and specimen quality of ultrasound‐guided fine needle sampling without aspiration of the canine spleen

“…18 The characteristics of the needles used to sample the spleen are not always specified in the literature, but when they are, multiple diameters are mentioned, ranging from 21 to 25-gauge (G), with 22G needles being predominant, presumably selected by routine or general opinion rather than scientific agreement. 13,17,[19][20][21][22][23] Based on 20 years of FNA experience and close collaboration with the cytopathology department, our team no longer uses 22G needles, which we consider to be painful and traumatic and lead to hemodiluted cytologic specimens. For FNA of the spleen and other organs, we have successfully used 23 and 25G needles for 15 years and recently introduced the use of 27G needles based on current practice in human medicine for thyroid puncture.…”

“…Studies in human 16 and veterinary medicine 17 have suggested that US‐FN‐NA is more effective than US‐FNA as it gives specimens with similar cell morphology, higher cellularity, and less hemodilution 18 . The characteristics of the needles used to sample the spleen are not always specified in the literature, but when they are, multiple diameters are mentioned, ranging from 21 to 25‐gauge (G), with 22G needles being predominant, presumably selected by routine or general opinion rather than scientific agreement 13,17,19–23 …”