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Evaluation of lymph node aspirates at diagnosis and relapse in dogs with high‐grade multicentric lymphoma and comparison with survival time
Author(s) -
Munasinghe Lilani I.,
Kidney Beverly A.,
MacDonaldDickinson Valerie,
Larson Victoria S.,
Jackson Marion L.,
Fernandez Nicole J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/vcp.12243
Subject(s) - medicine , cytology , lymphoma , canine lymphoma , lymph node , survival analysis , proportional hazards model , lymphovascular invasion , chemotherapy , pathology , gastroenterology , cancer , metastasis
Background Canine high‐grade multicentric lymphoma, a common disease with variable response to chemotherapy, is often diagnosed using cytology. Objectives The purpose of the study was to compare cytologic features of canine peripheral lymph node aspirates collected at diagnosis and at relapse, and evaluate their usefulness in predicting survival. Methods Cytologic scoring based on a rubric and nuclear morphometry analyses were performed on cytologic smears collected at diagnosis and at relapse. Scores at diagnosis and relapse were compared by paired t ‐test and evaluated in relation to time from diagnosis to remission, remission to relapse, relapse to death, and total survival time, using the Cox proportional‐hazards regression model. Results Number of mitoses and total cytologic score were significantly higher at relapse compared to diagnosis ( P < .05). None of the nuclear morphometry measures were significantly different between diagnosis and relapse. The presence of binucleated or multinucleated cells at diagnosis was associated with a shorter remission and decreased total survival ( P < .05). Increased mean nucleoli at relapse was associated with longer remission and total survival ( P < .05). Increased minimum nuclear radius and diameter at diagnosis were associated with a decreased time from relapse to death ( P < .05). Several nuclear morphometry measures at relapse were associated with a shorter time from diagnosis to remission ( P < .05). Conclusions Number of mitoses and total score were higher at relapse than at diagnosis in canine lymphoma . The presence of binucleated or multinucleated cells at diagnosis may be useful as indicator of a poor prognosis. Further studies including a larger number of cases are required to reinforce the prognostic values of these cytologic features.