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·Cytology is the microscopic examination of individual cells from body fluids, or tissue aspirates without regard to architecture of the tissue.

·Examination of the appearance of these cells and looking for inflammation or infection, it is often possible to diagnose specific diseases or determine the nature of a pet's illness.

·Cytology can be a rapid and inexpensive aid in establishing a diagnosis, or to help determine if a more invasive biopsy for histologic examination is indicated.

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Fine needle aspiration (FNA), also called fine needle biopsy, is the most frequently used technique in cytology and is typically used to sample 'lumps and bumps' found on the body.

Skin cytology samples can be acquired via fine-needle aspiration. FNA can also be used to evaluate:

1) Internal organs such as the liver, lung, lymph node, or kidney.

2) Body fluids such as urine or joint fluid.

3) Abnormal accumulations of fluid (called effusions) usually found in the chest and abdomen, and sometimes around the heart.

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For routine sampling of lumps and bumps on the body surface, no special preparation required, although a simple disinfectant like alcohol may be applied to the skin prior to sample collection.

The FNA technique is very simple.

· A sterile needle is attached to an empty syringe. The needle is gently inserted into an immobilised skin lesion and the plunger of the syringe is pulled back while the needle is inserted in the tissue.

·This action creates negative pressure/suction which pulls cells (aspirates) from the lesion into the syringe.

·The contents in the syringe are expelled and spread onto a thin layer onto a microscopic slide which is allowed to dry immediately. The slides are then sent to a diagnostic lab for evaluation.

When submitting the sample to a laboratory for cytological examination:
· ALWAYS include where the sample is from, pertinent history and physical exam findings..

·Ensure that the slides are labelled properly with the animal’s name and site from which the sample was taken from.

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Figure 3: Performing a fine needle aspirate.

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Figure 3: Performing a fine needle aspirate.

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Figure 2: A fine needle aspirate (FNA) taken from a mass on a dog.

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Figure 2: A fine needle aspirate (FNA) taken from a mass on a dog.

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Sometimes the material collected on FNA is sub optimal due to multiple factors, the most frequent are:

·Air drying artifacts (leaving the smears for too long before staining).

·Marked acute and chronic inflammation can obscure diagnostic cellular details. The patient history and details are important information for the cytologist.

· Too many red blood cells makes abnormal cells difficult to be detected and interpreted appropriately.

·The sample may have too few cells to make a diagnosis

The cytologist will indicate if further testing must be done.