title: Nonaspiration fine needle cytology and its histologic correlation in canine skin and soft tissue tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the findings of nonaspiration fine needle (NAFN) cytology as compared with the histopathologic findings in evaluating canine skin and soft tissue tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  NAFN (21-27 gauge) cytology was performed on 213 cases. Smears were air dried and stained by the Rosenfeld method (May-Grünwald-Giemsa modification). Histopathologic evaluation was available for comparison in 40% of cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NAFN cytology and histopathology results were compared in 85 dogs. The size of the 117 lesions varied from 0.5 to 2 cm (n=39), 2.1 to 5 cm (n=43), and > or = 5.1 (n=35). There were 22 nonneoplastic lesions, mostly inflammatory processes and cysts. Neoplastic lesions were classified as epithelial (36%), mesenchymal (30%), round cell tumor (n=13) and melanocytic (2%). Among 40 malignant lesions, mast cell tumor (n=14) and hemangiopericytoma (n=9) were the most frequent. Lipoma (n=14) and trichoblastoma (n=10) were the most common benign neoplastic lesions. Cytology showed sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 100%, positive and negative predictive value of 100% and 96%, respectively, and efficacy of 97%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NAFN cytology is extremely useful and accurate. It is safe and avoids the use of anesthesia. Further, it is easy to perform and noninvasive and usually provides a high-quality sample.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary School, São Paulo University, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chalita
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Longatto Filho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*