Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

FNCB 'moderately effective' at retrieving clinically-useful GI samples
The team reviewed GI samples from 25 dogs and 19 cats obtained by fine needle cytology biopsies.
Study published in the JSAP reviewed GI samples from 25 dogs and 19 cats.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle cytology biopsies (FNCB) are moderately effective at retrieving clinically-useful samples from gastrointestinal lesions (GI lesions), according to new research.

Published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, the study aimed to assess factors that may influence the clinical usefulness of samples collected from GI lesions by FNCB. The team reviewed GI samples from 25 dogs and 19 cats obtained by FNCB from a single institution between February 2014 to August 2016.

Researchers evaluated the clinical records to obtain historical data, clinical findings, diagnostic results and patient outcomes. Lesion thickness was categorised further as either a mass (≥20 mm thickness) or a thickening (<20mm).

The team also reviewed factors that may have influenced the retrieval of a clinically useful sample. These included the lesion location, sonographic lesion thickness, the loss of (or alteration to) the intestinal layer conspicuity on ultrasound, and the number of slides submitted to the cytologists.

Study author Dr Robert Turner, a registrar in veterinary radiology at the University of Melbourne, said: “Of the submitted cytological samples, 68 per cent (30/44) were considered clinically useful, including 11 of 18 from the stomach, eight of 12 from the small intestine, five of six from the ileocaecal junction and six of eight cases from the colon.

"The study found that both increasing lesion thickness and the number of slides submitted to the cytologists were positively associated with the odds of obtaining a clinically useful sample. In a multivariable logistic regression model, some evidence was obtained that these factors were related, but the available data was insufficient to precisely estimate their combined effect.”

JSAP editor, Nicola Di Girolamo, concluded: “The results of this study indicate that ultrasound-guided percutaneous cytology is moderately effective at retrieving clinically useful samples from GI lesions. Future research including larger, prospective studies would help to ascertain safety of this diagnostic technique, potential inter-operator variability, as well as a pragmatic comparison in terms of patient outcomes with the current standards for diagnosing GI lesions.”

 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.