Ultrasound-Guided Aspiration and Biopsy Procedures

An Overview of Small Animal Veterinary Sonography

“…5,6 When there is a known mass, either visualized externally, on X-ray, or palpable, a sonogram can be performed to survey the extent of tumor invasion and the presence and extent of metastases as well as guide biopsies. The most common animal acquired cancers are lymphoma, mast cell tumors (or mastocytomas), transitional cell carcinoma, and hemangiosarcomas.…”

“…Ultrasound guidance has improved the overall percentage of positive diagnostic samples, as well as increasing the speed and safety of these procedures. 5 If a mass is identified in an animal, it is typically biopsied so as to determine the specific type of cancer. 6 The first line of defense in veterinary imaging remains the conventional plain film radiograph.…”

Incidental and Nonincidental Canine Thyroid Tumors Assessed by Multidetector Row Computed Tomography: A Single‐centre Cross Sectional Study in 4520 Dogs

“…(3) side (left/right); (4) size (volume); (5) shape and margins: nodular (when one or more nodules arose within an otherwise normal thyroid gland), ovoid (in case of ovoid-to-round masses with regular margins), and irregularly shaped (ovoid-to-round masses with irregular or ill-defined margins); (6) homogeneity (evaluated subjectively on precontrast scans); (7) presence/absence of mineralization; (8) visual assessment of intratumoral vascularization (small tubular enhancing structures within the tumoral parenchyma; yes/no); (9) qualitative analysis of patterns of parenchymal enhancement of the tumor (homogenous, inhomogeneous, null, peripheral); (10) invasion of surrounding vascular structures, such as the thyroid veins, internal and external jugular veins, and common carotid arteries (by identification of a mass-like void of contrast medium within the vessel during the angiographic phase of the CT study) 13 ; (11) suspected surrounding tissue invasion (lack of distinction between the primary tumor and neighboring tissues, such as the cervical muscles and larynx, esophagus, trachea wall, or obvious luminal invasion of the latter); (12) regional lymph node enlargement, evaluated subjectively or in comparison with the contralateral nodes (mandibular, medial retropharyngeal, and superficial cervical); and (13) suspected distant metastases (e.g. lung nodules, mediastinal lymph nodes).…”

“…When a thyroid lesion is suspected, ultrasound is usually performed in the awake patient to confirm the presence of a nodule or mass, characterize the lesion, and assess the status of the contralateral gland. Ultrasound can accurately guide fine needle aspirates and thyroid lesion biopsies . Recommendations from most recently published studies state that ultrasound is indicated as an initial screening tool, but that MRI or CT should be performed for preoperative diagnosis and staging purposes …”

“…Ultrasound can accurately guide fine needle aspirates and thyroid lesion biopsies. 7,8 Recommendations from most recently published studies state that ultrasound is indicated as an initial screening tool, but that MRI or CT should be performed for preoperative diagnosis and staging purposes. 8,9 Carcinomas, which are generally larger than adenomas, can be detected easily by palpation during physical examination.…”