Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the pancreas in a dog.

A large, ill-defined, firm, multinodular mass involving the pancreas was confirmed on postmortem examination of a 5-y-old, male Rottweiler that died following acute respiratory distress syndrome, after a period of anorexia and lethargy. Histologically, the mass consisted of plump spindle cells admixed with a variable number of macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and neutrophils. Foci of coagulative necrosis and hemorrhage were also observed. Spindle cells strongly reacted to antibodies against vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, and calponin, whereas desmin was expressed only mildly and focally. Pan-cytokeratin, KIT, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and S100 protein were nonreactive. Variable numbers of MAC 387-positive cells, CD3+ lymphocytes, and numerous blood vessels were also detected throughout the mass. Histologic and IHC findings were consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the pancreas.

Detection of bovine papillomavirus type 2 DNA in calf conjunctival myofibroblastoma.

An 8-month-old male Japanese Black calf was referred for the evaluation of a slow-growing conjunctival mass in the right eye. A superficial keratectomy was performed followed by recurrence on two occasions. No metastases were found in surrounding tissues. Histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural investigation revealed that both the primary and the recurrent lesions were benign, conjunctival, myofibroblastomas. Interestingly, bovine papillomavirus type 2 (BPV-2) DNA was detected in both myofibroblastoma lesions. Archival bovine myofibroblastomas from the vulva and neck were also analyzed for papillomaviral genomes. BPV-2 DNA was also amplified from these lesions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing a potential causal relationship between BPV-2 infection and conjunctival myofibroblastoma.

High-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma of inguinal region in a dog.

A subcutaneous tumor in the left inguinal region was present in an 11-year-old female bloodhound. Histopathologically, the tumor showed invasive growth and extensive necroses, and it was composed of spindle-shaped, elongated, and stellate neoplastic cells accompanied by occasional giant cells arranged in fascicular, herringbone, or irregular storiform patterns with abundant production of collagen fibers. The cytoplasm of most tumor cells was positive for vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and calponin, but was negative for desmin, smoothelin, and S-100. Furthermore, most of the tumor cells were negative for Iba1 while some tumor cells were weakly positive. Thus, this tumor was diagnosed as a high-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma according to the diagnostic criteria for human myofibroblastic sarcomas.

Myofibroblastic fibrosarcoma with multifocal osseous metaplasia at the site of equine influenza vaccination.

We describe a fibrosarcoma in a 12-year-old Quarterhorse x Arabian gelding as a sequela to equine influenza vaccination. Shortly after the second vaccination, swelling at the site was noticed by the owner and it continued to increase in size over the following 6 months. Biopsy of the mass indicated a fibrosarcoma had developed at the vaccination site. It was approximately 20 cm in diameter and elevated well above the level of the skin. There was no clinical evidence of metastases to the lungs or local lymph nodes. Surgical resection of the mass was performed and the wound healed by first and second intention. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining confirmed a myofibroblastic fibrosarcoma with multifocal osseous metaplasia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first equine case of a vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma.

Inflammatory pseudotumours of the urinary bladder in dogs resembling human myofibroblastic tumours: a report of eight cases and comparative pathology.

Eight cases of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours (IMT) of the urinary bladder in dogs are described, including their clinical, imaging, morphological, and histopathological aspects. Old small breed female dogs were more commonly affected. Haematuria was the main clinical sign, often associated with dysuria and crystalluria. The IMT appeared as single or multiple, polypoid, firm masses, measuring 1-7 cm. Histologically, the masses were well delineated, covered by a benign hyperplastic urothelium and diffusely infiltrated by a mixed inflammatory component. The cells were spindle-shaped, adopting a fascicular, pallisading or whirling organisation and were vimentin and variably desmin and actin positive. The nuclei were globular, containing open chromatin and prominent nucleoli. Mild to moderate pleomorphism and little mitotic activity were present. These morphological features are compatible with human myofibroblastic inflammatory tumours.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors in two dogs.

Two soft tissue masses from different locations in 2 dogs were submitted for histopathologic examination. Each was well demarcated and consisted of interweaving streams of bland spindle cells among which numerous plasma cells and lymphocytes were scattered. All the spindle cells reacted strongly to antibodies against vimentin and calponin, whereas a subset of the spindle cells expressed smooth muscle actin and desmin. Immunohistochemistry results were consistent with a myofibroblastic derivation for the spindle-cell population and the diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) was made. This is the second report of IMT in the veterinary literature.

Peritoneal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in a brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus).

An 8-yr-old, male brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus) presented for necropsy examination in good nutritional status. It had received treatment for Strongylus spp. infection 1 yr earlier, and it had a short episode of diarrhea 2 days before death. Postmortem examination revealed disseminated, variably discrete, soft to firm, white-gray nodules over the omentum, mesentery, intestinal serosa, and at the liver surface. Histologically, these tumors were mainly arranged as proliferating spindle cells growing in interlacing fascicles or in a storiform pattern associated with ropy collagenous stroma and vascularization. Inflammatory cells, consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages, infiltrated between the tumor cells. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of antibodies to alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin was observed in the tumor cells. Antidesmin immunoreactivity varied with area. The morphologic features, the presence of inflammatory infiltrates, and the immunohistochemical expression were consistent with a diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor as reported in humans, horses, and cats.

Management of hemodynamic changes associated with removal of a large abdominal myofibroblastic tumor in a pony.

A 22-year-old female Welsh-cross pony was evaluated because of intermittent colic, signs of depression, pyrexia, anorexia, muscle wasting with abdominal distention, and weight gain over the preceding 12 months. A large abdominal mass was detected and surgically removed; the hemodynamic alterations and complications caused by the dramatic fluid losses and shifts that can occur in association with removal of a large abdominal mass required extensive postoperative management. Monitoring of clinical and hematologic variables such as attitude, heart rate, mucous membrane color, mean arterial blood pressure, PCV, and plasma total protein concentration provided useful information for successful management of the patient after surgery. On removal, the tumor weighed 19% of the pony's body weight and was characterized as a myofibroblastic tumor. Myofibroblastic tumors should be considered as a differential for large internal abdominal masses in horses, and surgical removal may be feasible and life extending with appropriate postoperative care.

Myofibroblastoma of the neck in a heifer.

A 1.5-year-old Holstein heifer had a subcutaneous tumor mass (20 cm diameter) on the ventral portion of the neck, and the tumor was diagnosed as a locally invasive myofibroblastoma. It consisted of moderately cellular fibrous tissue, and the interlobular septum of the thymus was invaded by tumor cells. The neoplastic cells were positive for alpha smooth muscle actin and vimentin, but not for desmin. Electron microscopy disclosed the presence of moderately developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and microfilaments with focal densities.

Changes in the frequency and size of smooth muscle tumors in Japanese quail lines differing in body weight.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the incidence and size of smooth muscle tumors in several Japanese quail lines and to report recent correlated changes in mature BW and egg production. Laying females from lines selected solely (HW) or partly (HW-HP; HW-LP) for increased 4-wk BW or for decreased 4-wk BW (LW) and from the corresponding randombred control (R1) were used. Lines HW-HP and HW-LP were sublines of Line HW in which males were selected for increased 4-wk BW and females were selected for high or low level of total plasma phosphorus, respectively. Laying hens were examined for the presence of smooth muscle tumors after about 170 d of egg production (240 d of age). During Generations 19 through 26, mature BW was increasing in the HW line and decreasing in the LW line. Selection for either increased or decreased 4-wk BW resulted in decreased egg production, but the only significant change with generations was a decrease of 2.7 eggs per hen for a 120-d laying period in the LW line. Frequency and weight of the smooth muscle tumors were greater for females from the large-bodied lines than females from Line R1. No tumors were detected in LW females. Based on the linear regression of response on generations, tumor frequency was increasing in Line HW-LP but tumor weight was decreasing in this line. Tumor weight was increasing in the HW line. No other changes in tumor frequency or size were noted across generations. Weight of the tumors was not correlated with egg production. The presence of tumors did not seem to affect mortality during the laying period. The Japanese quail lines may serve as a useful animal model for the study of smooth muscle tumors in humans, chickens, and turkeys.

Neuromyoblastoma in the rat.

We report three tumours arising in the brain stem or adjacent cranial nerves of the Alderly Park rat. Light microscopy with special stains, immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy supported the conclusion that both neuronal and myoid differentiation occurred in all neoplasms. This was shown by the presence in neural cells of axon-like cell processes and in myoblastic cells of striated myofibrils. Although medulloblastomas occur in man and rats the tumours reported here were not related to the cerebellum. We have termed this tumour neuromyoblastoma.

Spontaneous rhabdomyosarcoma in a rhesus monkey.

In an adult male rhesus monkey, a large pelvic mass causing lysis of the ilium and destruction of pelvic musculature was diagnosed as a spontaneous rhabdomyosarcoma by the use of histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical techniques.

Primary cardiac granular cell tumor in a dog.

The histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural features of a granular cell tumor in the wall of the right atrium of the heart in a nine-year-old dog are described. The histologic appearance of the mass varied from areas of spindle-shaped cells to sheets of globoid cells with foamy granular cytoplasm. The globoid neoplastic cells contained numerous cytoplasmic granules which were variably positive to periodic acid-Schiff staining, with and without disastase digestion. Ultrastructurally, the globoid cells had numerous various-sized, heterogeneous lysosomes with pleomorphic content. A granular cell tumor originating in the heart has not been reported previously in animals. The support for a neural origin of these tumors by the recent identification of several nervous tissue specific proteins in their granular cells is discussed.

Granular cell myoblastoma in the tongue of a dog: a case report.

A granular cell myoblastoma was found in the dorsal side of the tongue of a 9-year-old female mongrel Pinscher. Macroscopically the tumour was white, well circumscribed, and 1 1/2 cm in diameter. Microscopically the tumour cells were arranged in small compact nests or cords with delicate, poorly vascularized collagen bundles in between. Acinar structures were found, also a few mitotic figures were present. Cytoplasmic granules showed a positive periodic acid Schiff reaction. Ultrastructural features included indented nuclei and small-sized vesicular cytoplasmic granules. The histogenesis of the neoplasm remains uncertain.

Myoblastoma. Equine granular cell tumor.

A unilateral pulmonary granular cell tumor occurred in a Thoroughbred mare with longstanding respiratory disease wrongly attributed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The clinical features, radiology and endoscopic appearance permitted an accurate diagnosis, which was supported by subsequent necropsy and histologic examination. Obstructive pulmonary disease was ruled out after measurement of arterial blood gases and maximum intrathoracic pressure changes, and after microscopic examination of the lung.