🔍 Key Findings Summary
- Subjects: 12 healthy colony cats, 68 total liver samples collected via laparoscopy
- Biopsy instruments: 3 mm vs 5 mm Storz Blakesley cup forceps
- Techniques: Twist (T), Pull (P), Twist + Pull (TP)
- Results:
- 5 mm forceps yielded significantly more hepatic lobules (mean 12.4 vs 4.9), portal triads (29.6 vs 19.0), weight, and histologic area (p < .01)
- T and P techniques yielded more portal triads and lobules than TP (p = .003 and p = .015)
- TP technique resulted in greater tissue crush vs T (p = .01)
- Good diagnostic agreement between 3 mm and 5 mm samples only with TP (κ = 0.75)
- All samples were of sufficient diagnostic quality, despite size or technique
- Clinical implication: Both 3 mm and 5 mm forceps are viable; further studies are needed to confirm diagnostic accuracy of 3 mm samples
