USE OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY AND AUTOMATED CORE BIOPSY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF GASTROINTESTINAL-DISEASES IN SMALL ANIMALS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound -guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy in the diagnosis of infiltrative gastrointestinal diseases. Six dogs and seven cats wi th clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease underwent ultrasonograph y and intestinal lesions were identified. One or more ultrasound-guide d fine-needle aspiration biopsy and/or core biopsy procedures were per formed in each patient. Each patient also underwent one of the followi ng additional procedures for comparison of results: 1) surgery (n = 4) , 2) endoscopy (n = 2), 3) post mortem exam (n = 3), and, 4) for lymph oma diagnosed with ultrasound-guided procedures, response to chemother apy (n = 4). Correct diagnoses were obtained in nine of the 13 patient s, incorrect diagnoses in two of the 13 patients, and inconclusive dia gnoses in two of the thirteen patients. Of the 16 total ultrasound-gui ded procedures performed, ten were confirmed as correct, three as inco rrect, and three were non-diagnostic. Intestinal lesions with bowel wa ll thickness greater than 2.0 cm had a higher percentage of correct di agnoses than lesions of lesser wall thickness. Gastric lesions had a h igher percentage of correct diagnoses than small and large intestinal lesions. Malignant lesions had a higher percentage of correct diagnose s than benign lesions. There were no complications. Ultrasound-guided gastrointestinal fine-needle aspiration biopsy and core biopsy appears to be a safe, accurate, and rapid procedure for use in the diagnosis of infiltrative gastrointestinal disease.