New AI tool for in-clinic cancer screening is announced

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A new artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology for performing quick in-clinic screenings of common lymph node and subcutaneous lesions at the point of care, AI Masses, was recently announced. The product, developed by Zoetis, is a new addition to their Vetscan Imagyst platform. AI Masses is expected to launch in the United States in the second quarter of 2025.

According to Zoetis, this addition to the Vetscan Imagyst platform—a multi-use diagnostic tool—was trained by human clinical pathologists.¹ The new technology allows veterinary professionals to quickly analyze in-clinic lesions that may indicate cancer. Specifically, AI Masses analyzes potentially neoplastic cells in lymph nodes and subcutaneous lesions.

“Waiting for results can be stressful for pet owners—even more so when it involves a cancer screening,” Richard Goldstein, DVM, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, global chief medical officer at Zoetis said in a release.¹ “Our research shows that up to 75% of pet owners find abnormal results highly stressful.AI Masses is yet another point-of-care capability to deliver results in-clinic, further exemplifies Zoetis’ purpose to advance care for animals, shortening anxious wait times to allow for faster care decisions that help provide the best possible outcome.”

The technology, which is Vetscan Imagyst’s 7th capability, was exhibited for the first time at the 2025 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida late last month. According to a company release, the new capability requires just one round of sample preparation with access to an add-on expert review from a network of board-certified specialists via a Zoetis virtual laboratory. The add-on expert review may incur additional costs.¹

“With this latest expansion, Vetscan Imagyst becomes the only commercially available veterinary diagnostic tool of its kind to offer 7 unique testing applications: AI Masses, Digital Cytology, AI Urine Sediment, AI Fecal, AI Equine Fecal, AI Dermatology, and AI Blood Smear, in one compact tabletop design,” wrote Zoetis in a news release.¹

According to Zoetis, the AI Fecal application has the ability to detect parasitic ova, cysts, and oocytes, and offers results within minutes. Meanwhile, the AI Dermatology diagnostic can identify yeast, inflammatory cells and bacteria, as well as differentiates between cocci and rods. Additionally, the AI Blood Smear analysis works to supplement complete blood count results in minutes. The platform’s Digital Cytology Image Transfer capability offers cytology results for all species through a digital review from board-certified clinical pathologists in hours.²

According to the company’s website, the Digital Cytology application can be used for all non-human species.² Although a dedicated computer is not necessary for the Vetscan Imagyst, clinics should have a high-speed connection to best support the technology. Additionally, the platform works with most practice information management software systems.²

In addition to showcasing its AI Masses technology, Zoetis also exhibited its Vetscan Opticell, a new “point-of-care” hematology analyzer at VMX.

References

1. Zoetis to Preview AI-Powered Cytologic Analysis Technology at VMX. January 24, 2025. News release. Zoetis.
2. Zoetis Diagnostics vetscan Imagyst. Zoetis. Accessed February 11, 2025. https://www.zoetisdiagnostics.com/us/point-of-care/vetscan-imagyst/