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JOURNAL CLUB CYTOLOGY & ONCOLOGY
Ultrasound-Guided Cytology of Spleen and Liver: A Prognostic Tool in Canine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumor Stefanello D, Valenti P, Faverzani S, et al. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
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evaluation and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with cytology of the liver and spleen. Cytologic criteria of MCT infiltration included clustering of well-differentiated
mast cells, large numbers of well-differentiated mast cells, or mast cells with atypical morphology (pleomorphic and poorly granulated). The dogs were separated into 2 groups: those without MCT infiltration into either the liver or spleen (n BOE UIPTF XJUI JOGJMUSBUJPO JOUP PS CPUI PSHBOT n = 10). Survival time between these groups was significantly EJGGFSFOU EBZT XJUIPVU .$5 JOGJMUSBUJPO WFSTVT EBZT (infiltration into liver and/or spleen) (P < 0.0001). This dramatic difference in survival time supports that the cytologic findings were consistent with systemic MCT. Survival time between dogs with normal versus abnormal ultrasound findings was not significant, suggesting that cytologic evaluation of the spleen and liver may be indicated for complete staging of dogs with MCT regardless of the ultrasonographic findings.
CRITICAL POINTS
r 5IFTF QBQFST JOWFTUJHBUFE B UPQJD PG POHPJOH debate: the benefit of FNA/cytology to stage dogs with MCTs, but with livers and spleens that appeared normal per ultrasound.
Correlation of Ultrasound Findings, Liver and Spleen Cytology, and Prognosis in the Clinical Staging of High Metastatic Risk Canine Mast Cell Tumors Book AP, Fidel J, Wills T, et al. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound
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III MCT treated with vinblastine/CCNU (lomustine) chemo- therapy. The focus was to: r %FUFSNJOF UIF TQFDJGJDJUZ BOE TFOTJUJWJUZ PG VMUSBTPVOE findings to determine MCT infiltration into the liver and/or spleen
r %FUFSNJOF .$5 JOGJMUSBUJPO JOUP UIF MJver/spleen using cytologic assessment.
Seven dogs had MCT infiltration, and the sensitivity of VMUSBTPVOE GPS EFUFDUJPO PG JOGJMUSBUJPO XBT
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r .BTU DFMMT DBO CF GPVOE JO NPEFSBUF OVNCFST in normal canine livers and spleens, and increased numbers found in splenic aspirates from dogs with MCT did not correlate with systemic behavior in a previous study (Cytological comparison of fine-needle aspirates of liver and spleen of normal dogs and of dogs with cutaneous mast cell tumours and an ultrasonographically normal appearing liver and spleen; Finora K, Leibman NF, Fettman MJ, et al; Vet Comp Oncol 2006; m
r 5IF TUVEJFT EJTDVTTFE BCPWF TVQQPSUFE the use of FNA and cytology to stage dogs with MCT (especially those at high risk for metastasis) and help determine survival time.
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determination of infiltration of the spleen or liver had significantly shorter survival times than dogs without infiltration WFSTVT
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the poor sensitivity of ultrasound for detecting organ infiltration in cases where it was confirmed with cytology and the decreased survival associated with identified infiltration, FNA and cytology of the spleen and liver are recommended for staging dogs with MCT thought to be at high risk for metastasis.
Laura D. Garrett, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM (Oncology), University of Illinois
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78 Today's Veterinary Practice January/February 2012