title: Diagnosis of canine gastric adenocarcinoma using squash preparation cytology.
abstract: Adenocarcinoma is the most common gastric tumour in dogs. Clinical signs and laboratory results are often non-specific, with histopathological examination of gastric biopsies being required to reach a definitive diagnosis. Use of cytology would potentially shorten the time to diagnosis and allow early interventional measures to be implemented. However, there are relatively few studies of the cytological features of gastric samples. The present study was designed to investigate whether cytology might be useful for diagnosis of canine gastric adenocarcinomas and to evaluate the performance of squash preparation cytology for this purpose. Squash preparations of gastric biopsies from 94 dogs were reviewed to determine the presence or absence of specific cytological features associated with adenocarcinomas and to compare findings with the results of histopathological examination of gastric biopsies. The presence of signet ring cells, microvacuolation, cellular pleomorphism and single cell distribution of epithelial cells were positively associated with a diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma. Combined evaluation (parallel testing) for the presence of signet ring cells and microvacuolation demonstrated excellent results for recognition of adenocarcinomas. Cytological examination of squash preparations from gastric biopsies and identification of signet ring cells and cytoplasmic vacuolation can allow rapid and reliable diagnosis of canine gastric adenocarcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Via L. Da Vinci 44, 11095 Grugliasco, Italy. Electronic address: fulvio.riondato@unito.it.
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riondato
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Via L. Da Vinci 44, 11095 Grugliasco, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miniscalco
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Torino, Via L. Da Vinci 44, 11095 Grugliasco, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berio
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via S.Costanzo, 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lepri
authors.affiliation: San Francesco Veterinary Clinic, Via ciardi 5, 20148 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Poliambulatorio Veterinario Argentina, Via Levà 58 Arma di Taggia, Imperia, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bottero
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Canine; Diagnosis; Gastric adenocarcinoma; Squash cytology