ULTRASOUND-GUIDED CATHETER BIOPSY OF THE LOWER URINARY-TRACT - TECHNIQUE AND RESULTS IN 12 DOGS

Ultrasound-guided catheter biopsy of lesions affecting the lower urina ry tract was attempted in 12 dogs with mucosal lesions affecting the b ladder (nine) or urethra (three). Histological biopsies were obtained by catheter biopsy in 10 dogs, enabling diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma in five, papilloma in two, prostatic carcinoma in two and c hronic cystitis in one. Cytological samples alone were obtained in two dogs, one of which enabled a diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma ; the other contained evidence of haemorrhage and inflammation, but sq uamous cell carcinoma was found in a subsequent excisional biopsy. Int ravesicular haemorrhage after biopsy was observed ultrasonographically in two dogs. Ultrasound guidance enables accurate determination of bi opsy catheter position. The size of biopsies obtained by this method m ay limit the accuracy of histological diagnosis.