title: Fine-needle aspirate cytology suggesting hepatic lipidosis in four cats with infiltrative hepatic disease.
abstract: Four cats are reported in which cytology smears obtained by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of the liver were interpreted as indicative of hepatic lipidosis. However, histopathology of hepatic tissue samples obtained with Tru-Cut-like needles or wedge biopsy revealed that the cats had inflammatory or neoplastic hepatic disease causing their clinical signs. Fine needle aspiration and cytology may not detect infiltrative lesions, particularly those that are nodular, multifocal, or localised around the portal regions. Fine needle aspirate cytology is a useful diagnostic procedure with many advantages, but care must be taken to avoid diagnosing hepatic lipidosis as the cause of illness when an infiltrative lesion is responsible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Willard
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D008064:Lipidoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male