Thoracic Radiography, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytopathology, and Pulmonary Parenchymal Histopathology: A Comparison of Diagnostic Results in 11 Cats

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic results and value of thoracic radiography, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytopathology, and lung histopathology in 11 cats with spontaneous respiratory disease in which radiography and cytopathology were inadequate in establishing a definitive diagnosis. In these cats, radiographic patterns were characterized as bronchial (n=6), interstitial (n=3), and alveolar (n=2); other features included hyperinflation (n=3), bronchiectasis (n=2), pleural fissure lines (n=2), pulmonary nodules (n=2), atelectasis (n=1), and a tracheal mass (n=1). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was unremarkable in two cats. Abnormal BAL fluid showed inflammation (n=5), hemorrhage (n=2), epithelial hyperplasia (n=1), or was suspicious for neoplasia (n=1). Histopathological evaluation revealed inflammation (n=8), neoplasia (n=2), and vascular congestion (n=1). The predominant radiographic location of disease correlated with the same histopathological location in seven cats, and the cytopathological class of BAL fluid was consistent with the histopathological class of disease in seven cats. There was poor correlation between the types of cells found in the BAL fluid and the pathologist's prediction of the types of cells likely to be found in the BAL fluid based on the amount and type of airway cellularity seen on histopathological examination. The results of this study suggest that in some cats, BAL fluid cytopathology does not always correlate with the type of pulmonary disease identified on histopathology. In respiratory diseases where radiography and cytopathology fail to provide a definitive diagnosis, histopathological examination of the lung may be necessary.

Influence of age on bronchoscopic findings in healthy beagle dogs

“…Kirschvink et al (2007) demonstrated an association between radiographic and bronchoscopic changes and an increased TCC in BALF in cats, while there were relatively poor correlations among radiography, bronchoscopy and BALF in other studies in dogs and cats (Norris et al, 2001(Norris et al, , 2002). However, the major limitation of the present study is the small size of each group, which could partly explain the lack of significant differences.…”

Biópsia pulmonar incisional por toracoscopia paraxifoide transdiafragmática com dois portais em cães

“…A radiografia torácica, por ser método não invasivo e de custo acessível, é o exame complementar mais utilizado nas afecções pulmonares. No entanto, o exame radiográfico torácico fornece padrões de alterações por vezes inespecíficos, limitando o diagnóstico (Norris et al 2002). Por outro lado, o lavado broncoalveolar fornece dados citológicos e microbiológicos que permitem uma melhor definição do distúrbio respiratório.…”

“…Quando as radiografias torácicas e as análises citológi-cas e microbiológicas não promoverem o diagnóstico definitivo, torna-se necessária a realização de biópsia pulmonar e do exame histopatológico (Norris et al 2002). A colheita de material para biópsia pulmonar pode ser efetuada através de broncoscopia flexível, a qual permite a visibilização interna das estruturas do trato respiratório e possibilita aquisição de amostras de fluido broncoalveolar e de tecido pulmonar em locais específicos (Miller 2007).…”

Lavado traqueobrônquico auxiliado por endoscópio rígido ou por tubo endotraqueal em cães

“…A radiografia torácica é, sem dúvida, o exame complementar mais utilizado nessas afecções, pois se constitui em um método não invasivo e de custo acessível. Contudo, o exame radiográfico torácico fornece padrões de alterações algumas vezes inespecíficos, limitando o diagnóstico definitivo (NORRIS et al, 2002). Dessa forma, o lavado broncoalveolar surge como exame complementar importante, fornecendo dados citológicos e I Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária (PPGMV), Centro de Ciências Rurais (CCR), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.…”