Hepatocellular carcinomas in Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs (Sus scrofa).

Various neoplasms have been reported in Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs (Sus scrofa) with few reports of hepatocellular tumors. Twenty-two pot-bellied pigs diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma at necropsy over a 3-year period at one institution are described, representing 29% of the total pot-bellied pigs necropsied. The average age of affected pigs was 16.6 years with 15 males and 7 females. The most common clinical signs were decreased appetite (16/22) and weight loss (7/22). Grossly, the majority were massive tumors (13/22) with fewer nodular tumors (8/22) and 1 diffuse tumor. Massive tumors were typically multilobulated, very large, and encompassing 1 or more adjacent liver lobes, and were soft to firm and tan-yellow to orange-brown. Nodular tumors had multiple, 1-15 cm in diameter, discrete nodules in multiple liver lobes. Gross evidence of abscesses, necrosis, hemorrhage, or cysts associated with the tumor was occasionally described. Half of the cases had possible intrahepatic metastasis, and extrahepatic metastasis was identified in 3 cases, including to the hepatic lymph node (1/3), lung (2/3), spleen (1/3), and kidney (1/3). Histologically, all tumors had a trabecular or solid pattern, or a combination. An adenoid pattern was only identified in small regions of a few tumors. The neoplastic cells were relatively well-differentiated with moderate pleomorphism and a low mitotic index. Other histologic features within the tumors included intracellular glycogen or lipid accumulation, extramedullary hematopoiesis, foci of coagulative necrosis, and bile stasis. Aged pot-bellied pigs can be predisposed to hepatocellular carcinomas, which are locally aggressive and can metastasize within the liver and to other organs.

Feline cholangitis: a necropsy study of 44 cats (1986-2008).

Forty-four cats diagnosed with moderate to severe cholangitis at necropsy are described. The population comprised 0.86% of all feline necropsies performed during the 22-year study period. Liver specimens were classified as acute neutrophilic cholangitis (ANC), chronic neutrophilic cholangitis (CNC), lymphocytic cholangitis (LC) or chronic cholangitis associated with liver fluke infestation (CC) based on the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) classification scheme. ANC (seven) and CNC (33) comprised the majority of cases. In contrast to previous descriptions, overlap was seen in clinical findings between ANC and CNC subtypes. Results suggest that liver enzyme activity may not predict degree of inflammation. Severity of inflammation varied between liver sections in individual cats, underscoring the need to obtain biopsy samples from multiple sites. Inflammatory bowel disease (50%), pancreatitis (60%), or both (32%) commonly accompanied cholagitis. We conclude that cholangitis is not a common cause of feline mortality. Most cats that succumb to cholangitis have ANC or CNC, and concurrent disease contributes to death in many.

Fibrosarcoma arising at the site of a retained surgical sponge in a cat.

An 8-year-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat had an abdominal mass palpated as an incidental finding on physical examination. Cytologic findings in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates of the mass were most compatible with a sarcoma, with abundant mineralized material and mixed inflammation. The mass was removed surgically and on gross examination was white-tan, firm, associated with the mesentery, and when transected contained a gauze sponge in its center. On histopathologic examination, an area of central necrosis with mineralization and numerous refractile fibers consistent with sponge material was surrounded by dense fibrous connective tissue (gossypiboma). Within the connective tissue was a population of highly pleomorphic spindle cells consistent with a fibrosarcoma. Immunohistochemically, most neoplastic cells stained strongly positive for vimentin and a low number of cells were positive for smooth muscle actin. The results were consistent with a fibrosarcoma arising at the site of a retained surgical sponge. At a follow-up visit 2 months postoperatively, ultrasonographic and cytologic evidence of metastasis was found in the spleen and mesentery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of malignant transformation at the site of a retained surgical sponge in a cat and the first report of a fibrosarcoma arising within a gossypiboma in a domestic animal.

Spontaneous squamous cell carcinomas in 13 baboons, a first report in a spider monkey, and a review of the non-human primate literature.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a neoplastic proliferation of epithelial cells undergoing squamous differentiation and represents a diagnostic challenge in non-human primates (NHP), especially in baboons with perineal SCC. METHODS: Fourteen SCC (13 baboons, 1 spider monkey) were identified over a 20-year period. A literature search identified 86 additional published cases of spontaneous NHP SCC. RESULTS: Squamous cell carcinoma was most commonly reported in macaques, baboons, marmosets, and squirrel monkeys. Metastasis occurred in 23%, of NHP. The most frequently reported primary locations were the oral cavity, integument, esophagus, and cervix-uterus. Perineal SCC occurred mainly in baboons. All reported SCC in marmosets occurred in the head. Nasal cavity SCC was only reported in male marmosets. All reported pulmonary SCC occurred in males, mostly in tree shrews. CONCLUSIONS: Squamous cell carcinoma is a common neoplasm in NHP and exhibits species differences. NHPs may provide a useful SCC animal model.