Introduction

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a minimally invasive technique. Fine-needle aspiration of the liver, pancreas, and intestine, even when performed without sedation and local anesthesia, is well tolerated in almost all small animal patients. Fine-needle aspiration cytology can be performed immedi­ately after identification of an abnormal ultrasound finding. Despite some limitations (e.g., the differentiation of hepatic disease), this technique has great diagnostic utility. Fine-needle aspiration cytology shows high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of certain diseases such as neoplasia and diffuse vacuolar hepatopathy.^1-5

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