ArticleVeterinary world2025
Large-scale epidemiological and diagnostic assessment of canine cytology in Portugal: insights from 12,671 retrospective cases.
Article in Veterinary world, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background and Aim: Cytology is a minimally invasive, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic tool widely used in veterinary medicine for evaluating a broad range of lesions. While extensively applied in clinical practice, large-scale epidemiological analyses of cytologic findings in canine populations are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of cytology in dogs in Portugal, assessing associations between lesion type, anatomical location, and demographic factors, and to identify patterns that can improve diagnostic utility in veterinary practice. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 12,671 cytological samples collected from canine patients between January 2010 and December 2016, submitted by 355 veterinary practices across mainland Portugal. Samples were categorized by anatomical location and diagnostic classification (neoplastic, inflammatory, non-neoplastic/non-inflammatory, and other). Demographic variables (sex, age, and breed) were recorded. Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests, logistic regression, and trend analyses to explore associations between diagnostic outcomes and study variables. Results: The overall diagnostic yield was 69.03%, with the highest rates in fluid (80.21%), mucosal (77.08%), and glandular (75.78%) samples. Cutaneous/subcutaneous lesions, although the most frequent, had the lowest diagnostic yield (66.12%). Of diagnostic cases, 43.94% were neoplastic, with prevalence increasing significantly with age, from 17.75% in dogs ≤1 year to 54.75% in those >10-15 years (p < 0.001). Females were more likely to present epithelial and mesenchymal lesions, while males more frequently had round cell and melanocytic lesions. Breed analysis revealed no significant predispositions after statistical adjustment. Veterinary hospitals achieved higher diagnostic rates than clinics (p = 0.002). Non-diagnostic samples (30.97%) were primarily attributed to poor sample quality or insufficient cellularity. Conclusion: Cytology is a valuable first-line diagnostic modality in canine veterinary practice, particularly effective for fluid, mucosal, and glandular lesions. Lesion prevalence varies significantly with age and sex, highlighting the need for tailored diagnostic considerations. Standardizing sample collection and preparation techniques, especially for anatomical sites with lower yields, could further improve diagnostic accuracy. While the absence of histopathological confirmation limits definitive classification, the large dataset and standardized diagnostic review strengthen the reliability of findings. Integrating cytology into routine diagnostics can enhance early disease detection, guide treatment decisions, and support epidemiological surveillance.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.