Intestinal strangulation caused by intra-abdominal lipomas in a dog

Pedunculated, intra-abdominal lipomas caused intestinal strangulation in a Doberman Pinscher. The dog was treated surgically to remove the lipomas and the devitalized intestine but died soon after surgery. Histologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of lipoma.

Bovine undifferentiated alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and its differentiation in xenotransplanted tumors

At necropsy, a 7-year-old Holstein cow, clinically diagnosed via rectal palpation as having malignant abdominal neoplasia was found to have many metastatic tumors of various sizes in the abdominal and thoracic cavities and in the liver, lung, kidney, adrenal, uterus, and lymph nodes. These tumors were examined by histologic and immunohistochemical methods using anti-human myoglobin, anti-bovine myoglobin, and anti-desmin sera. Tumors were diagnosed as undifferentiated alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas. The tumors in the abdominal and thoracic cavities differed histologically from the metastases in organs. The former tumors consisted of only undifferentiated cells, most of which did not stain positively for desmin or myoglobin. The metastatic tumors contained a few rhabdomyoblastic cells that stained positively for desmin and myoglobin. Tumors tissues from the cow were transplanted and propagated through six passages in athymic nude mice. After one passage, the transplanted tumor histologically resembled those from the abdominal serosa and consisted of cells with scanty cytoplasm with an alveolar arrangement. Cells from this tumor stained positively for desmin and negatively for myoglobin. After two passages through nude mice, tumor cells were of two distinct histologic types: those cells with scanty cytoplasm and elongated cells with plentiful eosinophilic cytoplasm. Both of these cells stained positively for both desmin and myoglobin. After six passages, cross striations were detected in neoplastic cells by electron microscopy. These findings illustrate that a highly undifferentiated bovine rhabdomyosarcoma, in which most of the cells in the original tumor lacked desmin and myoglobin, became better differentiated and stained positively for desmin and myoglobin after serial transplantation in nude mice.

Differentiation between intra-abdominal neoplasms and abscesses in horses, using clinical and laboratory data: 40 cases (1973-1988)

The medical records of 25 horses with intra-abdominal neoplasms and 15 horses with intra-abdominal abscesses were reviewed. Common clinical signs of disease observed by owners of horses in both groups included anorexia, weight loss, fever, signs of colic, and depression. Clinical laboratory abnormalities included leukocytosis, hyperfibrinogenemia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypocalcemia. There was considerable overlap of laboratory test results within and between the 2 groups of horses. Peritoneal fluid was classified as an exudate in 12 of 15 horses with intra-abdominal abscesses and in 14 of 25 horses with intra-abdominal neoplasms. Cytologic examination of peritoneal fluid yielded an accurate diagnosis in 11 of 25 horses with neoplasia and in 3 of 15 horses with abscesses. A mean number of 1.45 cytologic analyses/horse was needed to diagnose neoplasms in the 11 horses in which the analysis was successful in definitively diagnosing the condition.

Malignant lymphomas of follicular centre cell origin in 14 pigs

Malignant lymphomas of follicular centre cell (FCC) origin in 14 pigs are described. Seven cases were classified as abdominal type according to the distribution of the neoplastic lesions and the residual cases were of the general type. Most cases were composed of mixed populations of large and medium-sized neoplastic cells and the growing pattern varied from partially follicular to diffuse. The neoplastic cells often showed necrosis, to which macrophages reacted. A part of the neoplastic cells had cytoplasmic immunoglobulin M (CIgM) or cytoplasmic immunoglobulin G (CIgG). The histological features of swine FCC lymphomas are discussed.

An internal X-cell pseudotumor in a black croaker (Cheilotrema saturnum)

Cells closely resembling X-cells were the primary cellular component of a large pseudotumor in the viscera of a black croaker (Cheilotrema saturnum). The fish was captured in coastal waters off San Diego, California and was maintained at the Scripps Aquarium. After 2 years in captivity the fish exhibited extreme abdominal swelling due to a visceral mass, which weighed approximately one-fifth the total body weight. The cells associated with the pseudotumor were identified as X-cells due to their great variability in size, vesicular nuclei which stained negative for DNA and their formation of a pseudotumor. This is the first report of an X-cell pseudotumor in the visceral cavity. We agree with the hypothesis that the X-cell is a protozoan, and the description here of X-cells in a visceral pseudotumor in a fish of the family Sciaenidae associates an additional type of lesion with this enigmatic parasite.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the giant cell type in a cat

A malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the giant cell type was diagnosed in a 10-year-old female Domestic Short-Hair cat. The tumour was surgically removed but recurred after two months and the animal was destroyed. The most prominent histological feature was the presence of numerous multinucleated giant cells scattered among malignant-looking mononuclear tumour cells. In addition, 16 cases of MFH of the giant cell type reported in cats in the English language literature are reviewed. The mean age was 6.5 years. The most often affected breed was the Domestic Short-Hair and no sex preference was found. Ten out of 16 cases were located in the legs; 10 extraskeletal, three were skeletal and in three cases the origin of the tumour was not specified. Proved metastasis occurred in only one case.

Pathologic features of abdominal and thoracic paragangliomas in F344/N rats

Seventeen paragangliomas were identified in a retrospective review of 200 NTP/NCI carcinogenicity studies in F344/N rats that served either as control or treated animals. Most tumors were grossly visible and located in the retroperitoneum adjacent to the vertebrae and aorta near the kidneys. Three microscopically detected paragangliomas were found at the base of the heart. Microscopically, neoplastic cells were in nests separated by reticulin fibers and capillaries. Argyrophil granules were in the cytoplasm of the retroperitoneal and mediastinal paravertebral tumors. Dense granules were found in the one tumor examined ultrastructurally. Some tumors had areas of necrosis and tumor emboli were present in the lumen of the abdominal aorta and vena cava adjacent to the tumor with metastases present in pulmonary vessels. The incidence of retroperitoneal neoplasms was 3 times more frequent in male than in female F344/N rats.

Premature mammary development in a heifer with abdominal mesothelioma

A 13-month-old nonpregnant Holstein heifer had premature mammary gland development. A mesothelioma was found to involve the entire abdominal cavity, with 2 large tumorous masses adjacent to the right ovary and left kidney. Physiologic function of the ovary had been affected by the neoplasm.

Hypercalcemia associated with malignancy in a horse

Hypercalcemia associated with malignancy was diagnosed in a 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly admitted because of weight loss and reduced exercise tolerance of approximately 2 months' duration. Laboratory findings included hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, anemia, marked neutrophilia with lymphopenia and eosinopenia, and normal immunoreactive parathyroid hormone concentration. At necropsy, a 53.6-kg tumor was located in the cranioventral aspect of the abdominal cavity. Gross renal lesions were not noticed. Bone tissue appeared to be normal on gross and histologic examinations. The parathyroid glands were not grossly identified at necropsy. A specific test does not exist for detection of hypercalcemia associated with malignancy. The diagnosis of hypercalcemia associated with malignancy was made on the basis of clinical history, physical examination, radiographic interpretation, laboratory findings, histologic examination, and ruling out other causes of hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia, increased renal phosphate excretion in the presence of hypophosphatemia, absence of bone metastases, and identifying an abdominal mesenchymal tumor that may have originated from the left ovary satisfied the basic criteria for hypercalcemia associated with malignancy from a solid tumor.

Diseases of the abdomen

Because the abdomen of the adult horse is too thick to obtain good-quality radiographs, diagnostic ultrasound is a particularly valuable imaging modality in the diagnosis of abdominal disease. The size, shape, position, and texture of the liver, spleen, kidneys, urinary bladder, gravid uterus, and gut wall can be determined by scanning the abdominal surface. The presence or absence of abdominal fluid can be determined efficiently. Gut motility as well as ileus secondary to peritonitis or obstruction can be assessed. Suspected adhesions of the bowel can often be documented, and primary or secondary neoplastic processes can be identified and biopsied.

Two-dimensional, gray-scale abdominal ultrasonography. General interpretation and abdominal masses

The techniques of and general interpretive principles of gray-scale, two-dimensional abdominal ultrasonography in small animals are described. Using case examples, commonly encountered imaging artifacts and categories of disease are integrated with a description of what was obtained by radiography. Tissue echogenicity as a basis for general assessment of organ abnormalities as well as the expectations (interpretive and prognostic) one should have of abdominal ultrasonography are presented.

Costal bone changes similar to hypertrophic osteopathy associated with pulmonary and abdominal mesothelioma in a dog

An 8-year-old male Irish Setter was admitted because of nonweight bearing lameness of the left forelimb. Radiography failed to reveal any bony lesions of the forelimb; however, extensive periosteal new bone formation over most rib surfaces and an atypical cardiac silhouette suggestive of a mediastinal mass with pleural effusion were observed. New bone formation was seen on the ilium and a filling defect in the urethra, distal to the prostate, was apparent with contrast urethrocystography. Necropsy revealed scirrhous mesothelioma of the thorax and abdomen, multifocal periosteal exostoses, paraprostatic cyst, and benign prostatic cystic hyperplasia. Tumor cells were associated with the periosteal exostotic costal bone. The specific cause of the lameness was not determined.

Neurofibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma in slaughterhouse broilers

Two uncommon neoplastic lesions--a neurofibrosarcoma and a leiomyosarcoma--were found in 7-week-old slaughterhouse chickens. Grossly, the neoplasms both appeared as locally extensive, nodular lesions that displaced the mesentery and abdominal viscera. Histologically, these tumors were anaplastic and invasive into the surrounding tissues.

A study on the origin of adenocarcinoma in fowls using immunohistological technique

When tumor tissues collected from 12 hens suffering from so-called adenocarcinoma were stained with antisera by the indirect immunofluorescent method, all of the tissues appeared to contain ovalbumin. We suggest that most adenocarcinomas in the thoracoabdomen of mature hens are oviductal in origin.