Hi everyone,
I have been getting questions about the best way to gather info about growths in dogs. So, let’s take a look at a common technique used to accomplish this…a fine needle aspirate.
First of all, a fine needle aspirate is not a biopsy. A fine needle aspirate is a sample of the mass taken with a skinny little needle (meaning, not much to work with). The vet will disinfect the surface of the site to be aspirated, often after clipping the hair, to prevent infection. Next, a needle is introduced into the area of interest, and the plunger drawn back, creating a vacuum which draws cells into the hub of the needle. These cells are then used to make a slide for the vet or a pathologist to look at for a diagnosis.
What is good about this technique? Well, it takes about 2 minutes to do, and your dog gets to go home without sedation, anesthesia, or hospital stay. Quick, easy, outpatient…nice. This is a good technique to diagnose TYPE of growth (in my hands about 75% of the time you get this info from the path lab after submitting the slide).
How about downsides? A fine needle aspirate cannot tell if the cancer cells have moved inside the body or spread into neighboring areas. There is a little inaccuracy in this technique as well. My experience is that about 1 out of 4 of these come back “inconclusive”, meaning there was not enough on the slide for the path folks to give a diagnosis. Sometimes the vet will get a big sample, but the cells are just not the right kind to make a diagnosis (blood, connective tissue, etc.). Some tumors have a good cell yield, and others do not. Occasionally, we get an incorrect diagnosis with a fine needle aspirate.
Some dog tumors easily diagnosed with fine needle aspirates:
Lymphosarcoma/Lymphoma
Mast Cell Tumors
Histiocytomas
Lipoma
Cysts
Short story, this technique is a good, non-invasive, rough screen to get initial information. Just keep in mind the limitations…it is not guaranteed and if there is any doubt in your vet’s mind, go for the real biopsy…coming up!
Best,
Dr Dressler
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I have since read that a dogs age should not be the only reason to discount an op. I also read that anaesthetic’s are much safer than they use to be especially in an older dog that has had the blood test and got a good result.
Dear Barbara,
I would get this addressed. About half of these are cancerous, and it is not actually true that once you find a lump it must have already spread. This is only true some of the time. I’ve got to say my opinion is that of your vet in the US…at least get it biopsied at the minimum so you know what you are dealing with.
Best
Dr D
My dog has a lump on her paw that causes her to intermittently limp. FNA results defined it as a “follicular cyst” which confirmed what the vet initially thought since the lump deflated once she inserted the needle. I have read that these can be cured using turmeric and that surgery isn’t always necessary. A vet on a website also claimed that in vet school they explained to her how cysts are a good way for some vets to make money, when the surgery isn’t really needed. My vet is charging me $900 for the removal. I have already spent $500 in pre-surgical bloodwork and urine tests. Does my dog really need surgery? I am having a hard time figuring it out, yet I see countless people curing cysts at home so I feel as if I am being ripped off. Can you help shed some light please?
Janet,
While we cannot make specific recommendations over the internet, if the there is limp and pain associated with the lump, I think surgery to remove the mass is reasonable, for the comfort of your dog and to submit for biopsy. Biopsy is better than aspirates to determine benign vs malignant. If you are unhappy with the opinion you are getting from your vet, you could get a 2nd opinion. Good luck!
All my best, Dr Sue
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