title: Comparison of endoscopic and full-thickness biopsy specimens for diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary tract lymphoma in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic biopsy (EB) specimens for diagnosis of alimentary tract lymphosarcoma in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or alimentary tract lymphosarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic biopsy specimens were obtained during endoscopy of the stomach and duodenum immediately prior to laparotomy or laparoscopic surgery, during which full-thickness biopsy (FTB) specimens were obtained. Accuracy of histopathologic diagnoses was compared between EB and FTB specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lymphosarcoma was diagnosed in 10 cats on the basis of FTB specimens. Lymphosarcoma was detected in the jejunum and ileum in all 10 cats, in the duodenum in 9 cats, and in the stomach in 4 cats. In the same 10 cats, EB findings indicated a diagnosis of lymphosarcoma in 3 cats and were suggestive but inconclusive for lymphosarcoma in 3 cats. Lymphosarcoma was correctly diagnosed via gastric EB specimens in 3 of the 4 cats with gastric lymphosarcoma but evaluation of EB specimens led to an incorrect diagnosis of IBD in 4 cats with small intestinal lymphosarcoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EB specimens were useful for diagnosis of gastric lymphosarcoma but were not adequate for differentiating between IBD and lymphosarcoma in the small intestine. Because the most common sites of alimentary tract lymphosarcoma in cats are the jejunum and ileum, FTB specimens of those sites should be obtained via laparotomy or laparoscopy for accurate diagnosis. Laparoscopy may be a minimally invasive alternative to endoscopy and laparotomy for obtaining diagnostic biopsy specimens.
authors.affiliation: E & M Bobst Hospital and Caspary Research Institute, The Animal Medical Center, 510 E 62nd St., New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bonczynski
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Broussard
authors.forename: Eveline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Keith E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Baer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*