[Clinical experiences with cytology in the dog]

In a retrospective study (1995) cytological diagnoses of 3987 specimen of different origin in the dog were evaluated. Biopsies were performed at the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion animals at the University of Utrecht or sent in by external practitioners. Biopsies were obtained from different regions including skin/subcutis, mammary gland, lymph node, external ear canal, kidney, urinary bladder, urethra, prostatic gland, testes, bone, bone marrow, synovia, nose, oral cavity, cerebrospinal fluid, bronchial lavage, lung, spleen, liver, conjunctiva, and retrobulbar region. The majority of biopsies were obtained from skin/subcutis (n = 1815), lymph node (n = 706), and mammary gland (n = 415). A high percentage of non-diagnostic biopsies were observed with biopsies of lung, mammary gland, cerebrospinal fluid, external ear canal, and oral cavity. The frequencies of diagnoses in the different areas will be presented and the diagnostic indications of cytology are discussed.