RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS OF THE 28th ECVIM-CA CONGRESS

Hemangiosarcoma and chemodectoma represent the most frequent types of cardiac masses. Other tumors or non‐neoplastic cardiac masses mimicking neoplasia, have also been reported. Establishing a definitive diagnosis has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. Cardiac ultrasonography has good specificity and sensitivity for the detection of cardiac masses in dogs with pericardial effusion. However, reported agreement between ultrasound mass location and definitive histological diagnosis is only of 65% (50% for hemangiosarcoma and 80% for chemodectoma). Cytological examination of pericardial fluid is also of limited interest. Cardiac masses cytology is a potential diagnostic tool, but information about its safety is sparse and its diagnostic accuracy has not yet been evaluated.