Perforating abomasal ulcer caused by yolk sac tumor in a Holstein calf

Abstract

Abstract.A 2-month-old male Holstein calf showed clinical signs of abdominal bloating, melena, and pain and was suspected of having a perforating abomasal ulcer. Necropsy revealed a large mass located preferentially around the abomasum and a large perforating abomasal ulcer on the pyloric antrum. Milky white masses of various sizes were also found in the abdominal cavity that consisted of agglutinated nodules ranging in size from a pinhead to a golf ball and were distributed on the surfaces of the liver, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, and diaphragm. Microscopic examination revealed that the masses were composed primarily of hyaline matrices, epithelioid tumor cells, and large atypical cells with hyaline droplets and/or vacuoles. Stromal hyaline matrices and hyaline droplets of the large tumor cells stained positive with periodic acid-Schiff stain. Tumor cells showed a positive reaction to anti-human alpha-fetoprotein, which is a marker of yolk sac tumors. These findings strongly suggested that the masses found in the abdominal cavity were yolk sac tumor, a rare germ cell tumor in cattle.

Testicular yolk sac tumor of myxomatous, reticular, and polyvesicular vitelline type in a newborn calf

“…7,14 SchillerDuval bodies and hyaline globules, which are considered to be pathognomonic structures for human YST and were also present in the previous 2 calf cases of YST, were not found in the present case. 3,4,7,8,14 In fact, the histological findings of the present case have not been reported in any domestic animals to the authors' knowledge. A transition between the myxomatous and microcystic patterns was observed in the present case, as has been found in human YST.…”

“…8 In both cases, there were disseminated metastases in the abdominal cavity. 4,8 In the present study, a case of testicular YST in a newborn calf, which exhibited a histological pattern completely different from the 2 cases previously diagnosed, is described. In addition, tissue samples from the present case and a previous case of testicular YST 4 in a calf were subjected to immunohistochemical staining in order to detect various proteins; differences were found between the protein expression profiles of each histological pattern.…”

“…4 The other case involved a YST that developed in the abdominal cavity, and did not exhibit any testicular abnormalities. 8 The neoplastic cells in the latter case consisted of epithelioid cells and large atypical cells containing hyaline droplets and/or vacuoles. 8 In both cases, there were disseminated metastases in the abdominal cavity.…”

“…8 The neoplastic cells in the latter case consisted of epithelioid cells and large atypical cells containing hyaline droplets and/or vacuoles. 8 In both cases, there were disseminated metastases in the abdominal cavity. 4,8 In the present study, a case of testicular YST in a newborn calf, which exhibited a histological pattern completely different from the 2 cases previously diagnosed, is described.…”

“…7,14 Yolk sac tumors are extremely rare in domestic animals, and there have been only 2 reports of YSTs occurring in calves. 4,8 One of these cases was a testicular YST, which was histologically determined to belong to the endodermal sinus type. 4 The other case involved a YST that developed in the abdominal cavity, and did not exhibit any testicular abnormalities.…”