Vet Clin Small Anim 32 (2002) xi–xii

Preface

Cytology: Part I

Rick L. Cowell, DVM, MS

Guest Editor

Cytology continues to be an important tool in the clinical workup of

many medical and surgical cases in small animal practice. It allows one to
rapidly establish a diagnosis or identify a process so that appropriate ther-
apy can be provided quickly and cost-effectively. Accurate cytologic inter-
pretation requires not only microscopic evaluation but proper sample
collection, smearing, and staining techniques.
The primary objectives of this issue of Veterinary Clinics of North Amer-
ica Small Animal Practice are to provide the practitioner with practical in-
formation on sample collection, smearing, and staining techniques (useful
whether evaluating the smears in-house or sending them out) and well-
illustrated information on sample evaluation. With these objectives in mind,
each article has both verbal descriptions and high-quality illustrations to
characterize important features.
This issue contains articles on sample collection and processing and
recognizing basic cell types as well as articles on specific systems (subcuta-
neous glandular tissue, liver, pancreas, and bone marrow). The January
issue will continue with specific systems and cover cutaneous lesions, lymph
nodes, renal aspirates, splenic aspirates, abdominal and thoracic effusions,
bronchoalveolar lavage, and synovial fluid. I hope you find this issue and
the next to be practical and useful sources of information for both the begin-
ning and experienced cytologist.
I would like to thank the staff at WB Saunders Company for their help
and editing skills. It was a privilege to work with each of the excellent diag-
nostic cytologists who served as authors in this issue. I recognize the time
0195-5616/02/$ - see front matter Ó 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 1 9 5 - 5 6 1 6 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 5 4 - 2
xii R.L. Cowell / Vet Clin Small Anim 32 (2002) xi–xii

and effort it took to put these articles together, and I cannot thank them
enough for their willingness to share their many talents and high level of
expertise in cytopathology.

Rick L. Cowell, DVM, MS

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
Oklahoma State University
250 McElroy Hall
Stillwater, OK 74078-2007, USA
E-mail address: rlcowel@okstate.edu