Ultrasound‐guided transurethral urinary bladder biopsy using an endoscopic biopsy forceps in dogs: 27 cases (2016–2019)

Abstract

To describe an ultrasound-guided transurethral bladder biopsy technique using endoscopic forceps and its results in dogs of different sizes with different lesion locations.Materials and MethOds: Medical records of dogs that underwent ultrasound-guided transurethral bladder biopsy with endoscopic forceps were retrospectively reviewed. Patient signalment, lesion location, use of urinary catheter as a guide, outcome of the procedure and histopathology results were retrieved. results: Twenty-seven dogs underwent this procedure. Biopsy samples were successfully obtained in 23 dogs. Insertion of the endoscopic forceps without a urinary catheter allowed the procedure to be performed in patients with a small urethral diameter without complication. The procedure was unsuccessful in dogs with a urethral diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the biopsy forceps (i.e.1.8 mm), either due to small patient size or obstructive urethral lesion. All biopsy samples allowed histopathological diagnosis. No complications were reported after the procedure.clinical significance: This non-invasive biopsy technique should be considered in patients with bladder lesions in which histopathological diagnosis is needed, especially when endoscopic examination is not feasible. By use of the Doppler mode, biopsy retrieval was safe also when the lesion was highly vascularised.

Usefulness of squash preparation cytology in the diagnosis of canine urinary bladder carcinomas

“…Urinary bladder carcinomas pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians because clinical signs of hematuria, stranguria, pollakiuria, and dysuria are similar to those seen with urogenital inflammation. 3 Several diagnostic methods have been proposed to diagnose bladder urothelial carcinomas, [4][5][6][7][8]10,18 with histopathology considered the gold standard. 15 Although some procedures (ie, cystotomy, cystectomy) are more often associated with adequate samples and a final histopathologic diagnosis, these procedures may also be associated with morbidity and high cost.…”

“…15 Biopsy samples of ubC can be collected via surgical cystotomy, transurethral cystoscopy, or ultrasound-guided suction biopsy. [16][17][18] Although ultrasound-guided suction biopsy is a noninvasive and inexpensive biopsy method; it may provide inadequate tissue samples in some dogs. 17 Surgical cystotomy has some advantages.…”

“…Recently, ultrasound-guided transurethral biopsy using endoscopic biopsy forceps has been reported in 27 dogs with promising results. 18 Squash preparation (prep) cytology is an easy, noninvasive, and low-cost procedure that allows the operator to immediately verify if endoscopic biopsies would be adequate, showing promising diagnostic accuracy in predicting several tumors in dogs and cats. 21 Usually, endoscopic biopsies are crushed between two slides and pulled apart without smearing, resulting in monolayer distribution of cells on both slides quickly ready to be stained and microscopically evaluated.…”

“…To date, histopathologic examination is still needed to achieve a definitive diagnosis 15 . Biopsy samples of ubC can be collected via surgical cystotomy, transurethral cystoscopy, or ultrasound‐guided suction biopsy 16–18 . Although ultrasound‐guided suction biopsy is a noninvasive and inexpensive biopsy method; it may provide inadequate tissue samples in some dogs 17 .…”

“…Moreover, transurethral cystoscopy allows obtaining tissue samples from neoplasms with a low risk of complications. Recently, ultrasound‐guided transurethral biopsy using endoscopic biopsy forceps has been reported in 27 dogs with promising results 18 …”