Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the lung was performed on 16 dogs and 3 cats with consolidated pulmonary lesions or masses identified on thoracic radiographs. The cytologic results from the FNA were confirmed by histopathology, response to treatment, or microscopic identification of Blastomyces organisms. Neoplasia was identified correctly by FNA cytology in 10 of 11 animals, and no false positive results occurred, yielding a positive predictive value of 100%. Of 8 animals with infectious disease, 5 of 6 had blastomycosis and 1 had a bacterial infection, based on cytologic evaluation. Eight animals required sedation for the procedure, and none had clinical complications. We conclude that ultrasound-guided FNA of pulmonary mass lesions is an inexpensive, safe, and accurate method for diagnosing blastomycosis or neoplasia, especially carcinomas, in dogs and cats.

The sonographic appearance of three dogs with diffuse bladder wall thickening due to mural hemorrhage is described. Two dogs were diagnosed with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and the third dog with vitamin K antagonist toxicity. Urinary bladder wall thickening ranged from 5 to 12 mm on initial sonographic examination. In the two surviving dogs, the bladder wall returned to normal thickness. One dog, euthanatized for refractory hematuria, had submucosal hemorrhage in the urinary bladder at necropsy. Urinary wall thickening sonographically resolved at a rate of approximately 1 mm per day. Mural hemorrhage should be considered in patients with concurrent bleeding disorder and urinary bladder wall thickening.

2016-11-15T19:40:59

No abstract