Review on Diagnostic Cytology: Techniques and Applications in Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Cytology is a science of cells that is used to differentiate between normal cells, neoplastic cells and inflamed cells. It has great acceptance than any other diagnostic methods due to its quickness, inexpensiveness and simplicity. It uses the techniques such as fine needle aspiration, impression, scraping, swabs, centesis and catheterization for sample collection. Also slide preparation uses a simple technique such as squash, blood smear; needle spread and line smear techniques. What makes cytology unique is that it can tell us the result of the diseases while the patient is with us. This science has also wide application on determining the external and internal diseases including neoplastic diseases. In case of neoplastic diseases it is important to differentiate between neoplastic nucleus, neoplastic cytoplasm and neoplastic structure of different cells with their normal cells. In addition to these, it also used in direct therapy, to form prognosis and to determinate next diagnostic procedures. Character of the lesion and tissue sampled play pivotal roles in the diagnostic value of cytology. Familiarity with preferred sampling methods and reported accuracy is critical for veterinary practitioners and sample of good quality is imperative. Different specimen sampling methods and specimen processing methods should be properly practiced.

Hemangiosarcoma associated with Chemodectoma in an Old Pit Bull Bitch

“…Em estudo citológico de efusões cavitárias, as efusões neoplásicas foram consideradas como as mais prevalentes (42%), destacando-se o linfoma como a neoplasia de maior ocorrência [1]. Isso se dá porque o exame citológico é ferramenta bastante útil para a avaliação celular de fluidos corporais ou diagnóstico de neoplasias de células redondas, que são bastante esfoliativas [2]. Por outro lado, para esta paciente, que apresentou HSA e quimiodectoma, os exames citológicos do aspirado de área cavitária hepática e de líquidos cavitários foram inconclusivos para diagnóstico definitivo, porque estes neoplasmas produzem poucas células.…”

Nonconformities in Veterinary Cytopathological Examinations: A Retrospective Study of Unsuitable Samples for Analysis

“…Moreover, it allows the differential diagnosis of infl ammatory processes from growth disorders, as well as the evaluation of the cellular types that compose a neoformation. This type of analysis is applicable for secretions, body cavity fl uids, lavages, organs or solid tissues [1][2][3][4].…”

“…Nevertheless, careful interpretation is essential, since the technique does not allow any inference about the extension and depth of the lesion, and does not show the "architecture" of the tissue; in this way, with proper understanding of the technique's limitations, it can be suffi ciently employed as a screening examination or, in some cases, as a defi nite diagnostic test [2][3][4][5].…”

Diagnostic Validation of a Whole-Slide Imaging Scanner in Cytological Samples: Diagnostic Accuracy and Comparison With Light Microscopy

“…17 Diagnostic cytopathology is widely used in veterinary medicine as it is a minimally invasive technique, with a rapid turnaround time, and is cost-effective. 3,8 Depending on the type of lesions and the level of expertise of the pathologist reading the slides, cytological diagnosis can reach high diagnostic accuracy. 21 In other cases, cytology allows only a preliminary diagnosis or may indicate further testing.…”

“…21 In other cases, cytology allows only a preliminary diagnosis or may indicate further testing. 3 It is also used for prognostic purposes and to monitor a patient's response to therapy. 1 Because cytology sampling techniques are minimally invasive and diagnostic imaging is widely available, this procedure can allow sampling of internal organs from critically ill patients.…”