Histochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of chordoma in ferrets

Abstract

Chordomas of the tip of the tail in 6 ferrets were examined using histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical procedures. Histopathologically, round neoplastic cells containing numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles of varying sizes, categorized as “physaliphorous cells”, were observed in the amorphous eosinophilic or pale basophilic myxoid stroma. Physaliphorous cells were arranged in lobules and in a “chordoid” or “cobblestone” manner. The neoplasms were diagnosed as benign chordoma without local invasion and metastasis. Histochemically, the cytoplasm of small neoplastic cells was positive for periodic acid-Schiff stain and alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5 and pH 1.0 stains, but negative for hyaluronidase digestion-AB pH 2.5 stain. All neoplastic cells were strongly stained with colloidal ion, negative for high iron diamine AB pH 2.5 and toluidine blue pH 2.5 stains, and positive for Mayer’s mucicarmine stain. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies directed against low-molecular-weight cytokeratins (CK18, CK19 and CK20), vimentin and mucin core protein (MUC5AC) revealed that neoplastic cells had both epithelial and mesenchymal elements. The expression of low-molecular-weight cytokeratins suggests that neoplastic cells acquired the properties of glandular epithelial cells and produced epithelial mucus. Furthermore, the expression of cytokeratins, vimentin, S100 protein, brachyury and epithelial membrane antigen indicates that the neoplasms were equivalent to the classic type of human chordoma. Therefore, immunohistochemistry using these antibodies can be useful for the characterization of ferret chordoma.

Imaging Diagnosis—magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histopathological Features of a Skull Base Chordoma in a Cat

“…These cells had a vacuolated cytoplasm with variable amounts of intracytoplasmic glycogen. The presence of glycogen in physaliferous cells has been previously demonstrated both in humans and ferrets . Human and animal chordomas are known to produce myxoid stroma; in this case the matrix was composed of acidic mucopolysaccharides as demonstrated by positive staining with Alcian Blue pH 2.5.…”

“…Dual expression of cytokeratin and vimentin intermediate filaments in neoplastic cells is a well‐documented characteristic of animal and human chordomas . This feature helps in differentiating chordomas from chondromas, chondrosarcomas or other tumours with a chondroid origin when a chondroid component is observed.…”

Chordoma of the sacrum of an adult naked mole-rat

“…Ferret chordomas are usually benign, highly differentiated, and most commonly located at the tip of the tail. 17 Furthermore, in 2016, researchers found chordomas in 43% of autopsied Perdido Key beach mice, a critically endangered subspecies of oldfield mouse. The high prevalence of this tumor in Perdido Key beach mice is suggestive of a germline mutation in this highly inbred species.…”

“…Chordomas originate from notochordal remnants in the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disk. 17 Histologically, these tumors feature intracellular, bubble-like vacuoles that are uniquely described as physaliferous. 16 Although rare in humans, with an incidence of 0.08 in 100,000, chordomas are locally invasive, highly recurrent, and normally carry a poor prognosis.…”

Coccygeal chordoma in a degu: case report and review of the literature

“…3). In animals, chordomas have been reported most commonly in ferrets 21 and less frequently in dogs, 14 rats, 17 cats, 2 mink, 8 zebrafish ( Danio rerio ), 4 Perdido Key beach mice ( Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis ), 19 and a tiger. 13 In human and animal cases, including our degu, chordomas typically occur in older adults (Supplementary Table 2).…”