Body Cavity Effusion Analysis
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Eric J. Fish, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Eric J. Fish, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Dr. Eric Fish is a veterinarian, pathologist, scientist, educator, and business leader with over a decade of experience in veterinary medicine and the life sciences. His diverse background spans roles in academia as well as the private sector, including both start-ups and corporate medical technology companies. Dr. Fish was an early adopter of digital pathology, having started a static telecytology company called CytoVetStat and co-founding Lacuna Diagnostics (which was acquired by Heska in 2021).
His professional areas of interest include hematology and bone marrow disorders, oncologic pathology, iron metabolism and biomarkers, microRNA profiling, digital pathology, and applied computer vision and deep learning AI/ML (particularly computational pathology). In addition to subject matter expertise in these areas, Dr. Fish has led research and development as an executive, principal investigator, and as an innovation manager leading cross-functional teams of engineers, scientists, product managers, and managers in finance, procurement, and operations.
Overview:
This presentation delves into the analysis of fluid accumulations in the peritoneal, pleural, and pericardial spaces. It highlights the need for a thorough laboratory evaluation encompassing physical assessment, cell counts, cytologic evaluation, and sometimes ancillary testing. You will learn various collection and preparation techniques, including the use of EDTA and red top tubes for sample preservation and analysis. The lecture covers physical analysis methods to classify effusions, detailed cytologic analysis for understanding cell types and indications, and biochemical analysis for specific diagnosis. You will learn about different effusion types—transudates, exudates, hemorrhagic, and others—each characterized by distinct cellularity and protein content, providing insights into underlying pathologies.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the types of body cavity effusions and the mechanisms that lead to their formation, including transudates, exudates, and hemorrhagic effusions.
- Explain the steps and techniques used in collecting and preparing fluid samples for analysis, including PCV measurement, protein assessment, and proper sample storage.
- Identify the key physical characteristics of effusions, such as color and opacity, and correlate these features with different effusion types.
- Differentiate between the cytologic features of inflammatory and neoplastic cells, including common findings such as degenerate neutrophils, activated macrophages, and malignant cells.
- Summarize the biochemical and ancillary testing methods used to analyze effusions, such as glucose and lactate levels, and how these tests help confirm specific diagnoses.
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
