A Retrospective Study of Pancreatic Tumors in Slaughter Cattle

Abstract

Abstract. Sixteen primary pancreatic tumors were found in a retrospective study of bovine pancreatic lesions detected in slaughtered cattle. Eleven islet cell tumors and three pancreatic exocrine Carcinomas were identified based on light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Nine of 1 1 islet cell tumors were classified as malignant. Metastatic sites included iliac, mediastinal, hepatic, and mesenteric lymph nodes, peritoneum, mesentery, and liver. Six cows with multiple islet cell tumors also had pheochromocytomas. All 1 1 islet cell tumors had positive immunoreactivity to insulin and somatostatin. Three tumors also contained cells immunoreactive for glucagon and two tumors contained pancreatic polypeptide immunoreactive cells. Immunoreactivity of tumor cells in metastatic sites was similar to their respective primary tumors. All exocrine pancreatic carcinomas metastasized widely and were immunonegative for insulin, somatostatin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide. No mixed endocrine*xocrine tumors were identified. None of the endocrine or exocrine tumors contained amyloid. Additional primary tumors of the bovine pancreas included one neurofibroma and one neurofibrosarcoma. Additional cases with lesions of the bovine pancreas included nodular hyperplasia in 15 cows, exocrine acinar atrophy and fibrosis in four cows (two of which also had pancreatic lithiasis), pancreatitis in one cow, peripancreatic fibrosis in two cows, pancreatic steatosis in one animal, and pancreatic hemorrhages in one cow.Key words: Cattle; glucagon; immunohistochemistry; insulin; pancreas; pancreatic polypeptide; somatostatin.Few bovine pancreatic tumors have been reported in the veterinary literature. Only two nonmetastatic islet cell tumors36 and 16 metastatic islet cell tumors in cattle have been r e p~r t e d l .~.~.~~.~~.~~.~~.~~ and all but one report pertains to cattle in Italy. In only one report has insulin production been confirmed in a bovine islet cell tumor.39 Pancreatic exocrine adenomas have been described in the l i t e r a t~r e ,~.~~ but are often difficult to separate from nodular hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreas. Ten exocrine carcinomas of the pancreas have been r e p~r t e d .~~,~~ One fibrosarcoma has been observed in the bovine pancreas.I2Other diseases of the bovine pancreas include pancreatic l i t h i a~i s ,~~~~l 1,19,40 pancreatitis,20 pancreatic fluke infestation,16J9 pancreatic atrophy associated with nutritional defi~iencies,'~ and diabetes mellitus due to an infection with the foot-and-mouth disease virus.19 The purpose of this study was to characterize a group of pancreatic tumors and other pancreatic lesions taken from cattle examined at slaughter. Materials and MethodsTissues from lesions detected during routine slaughter and inspection procedures were submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service Eastern Laboratory. Tissues fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin were embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5 Fm, stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Congo r...

Cholecystic adenocarcinoma and pancreatic insulinomas in a goat

“…These tumors may be functional and lead to clinical signs associated with hypoglycemia. 6,12,13,17 To the authors' knowledge, no previous reports of islet cell tumors affecting goats have been reported in the veterinary literature.…”

“…The presence of well-demarcated and encapsulated nodules with no invasion of surrounding tissues supported the diagnosis of benign pancreatic neoplasia in this case. 6,12,13,17 Because of the lack of a complete biochemical profile that could have measured blood glucose levels, it was not possible to determine whether the insulinomas were functional in this case. Although the periodic episodes of recumbency could be attributed to severe hypoglycemia, 6,12,13,17 such signs are nonspecific and could also be secondary to the chronic arthritis.…”

“…Pancreatic islet cell neoplasia is fairly common in dogs, 12 ferrets, 6 cattle, 17 and less often cats. 13 The most common islet cell tumors are either adenomas or carcinomas arising from insulin-secreting beta cells (insulinomas).…”

Insulinoma in a 5‐Year‐Old Dexter Cow

“…6,19,20 Insulinoma in cattle has previously been identified by immunohistochemistry and light microscopy of suspected neoplasms encountered in the slaughterhouse at routine meat inspection. 20 Most of pancreatic tumors have been described as islet cell tumors and most of them were classified as malignant. 20 In humans, insulinomas are described as usually solitary, benign, and encapsulated small lesions with a diameter <2 cm.…”

Multiple Glucagon-Producing Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors in a Horse (Equus caballus)

“…Interestingly, all cattle with multiple tumors also exhibited unilateral pheochromocytoma, as we observed in this case. 4 A jaguar exhibiting 2 glucagon-producing Pan-NETs without clinical syndrome and no evidence for malignancy was described, 12 and ferrets also have exhibited multiple Pan-NENs, mainly insulinomas. 5 Horses, to the best of our knowledge, have not been diagnosed with any type of Pan-NEN so far.…”