Spinal Oligodendroglioma with Diffuse Arachnoidal Dissemination in a Japanese Black Heifer.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. A gelatinous focus with cystic spaces, was found in the posterior funiculus of the 2nd to 3rd lumbar levels of the spinal cord of a Japanese Black heifer, 2 years old, with clinical signs of severe dysstasia. Histopathological examination revealed that the spinal lesion consisted of multifocal and diffuse proliferation of round cells with abundant vacuolar cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei. In the lesions there was a number of cystic spaces containing aggregates of small round cells. The neoplastic foci showed a honeycomb structure divided by thin blood vessels, representing typical lesions of oligodendroglioma. Diffuse and multifocal proliferation of these round cells were also recognized in the subarachnoidal space in the sacral spinal cord. Immunohistochemically, the proliferating round cells were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein. Based on these morphological features, the case was diagnosed as lumbar spinal oligodendroglioma with diffuse arachnoidal dissemination.-KEY WORDS: bovine, oligodendroglioma, spinal cord.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 61(12): 1323-1326, 1999 cord were also stained with Luxol fast blue (LFB), Masson's trichrome, Watanabe's silver impregnation, and alcian blue (pH 2.5). Histopathological examination revealed that the lumbar spinal lesion consisted of multifocal and diffuse proliferation of neoplastic cells with cystic spaces (Fig. 2). The tumor mass was located mainly in the white matter, and the posterior funiculus were almost totally replaced by the proliferating tumor cells and cystic places. The neoplastic foci showed a honeycomb structure with solid proliferation of round cells, representing the typical appearance of oligodendroglioma (Fig. 3). Most neoplastic cells were round in shape with abundant clear cytoplasm and hyperchromatic central nuclei. The presence of cytoplasmic processes was not confirmed. In the tumor there were a number of blood vessels with thin vascular walls, while the endothelial cells did not show apparent hyperplastic or proliferative changes. There were also a few of well differentiated astrocytes with well defined eosinophilic cytoplasmic processes in the neoplastic foci.In contrast, at the periphery of the neoplastic foci, diffuse proliferation of these astrocytes was prominent. Within the cystic spaces, there were aggregates of small number of small round cells mimicking lymphocytes, with small hyperchromatic round nuclei and scanty cytoplasm. Mitoses of the neoplastic cells were extremely rare. The neoplastic cells invaded the leptomeninges, and the subarachnoidal space was filled by a proliferation of these cells. Diffuse and multifocal proliferation of the round cells and lymphocyte-like small round cells, were also seen in the subarachnoidal space in the 2nd and 3rd levels of the sacral spinal cord (Fig. 4). In this area, some foci consisted of aggregates of neoplastic cells, and some areas showed an organoid structure made up of tumor cells, a few astrocytes and their cytoplasmic processes (Fig. 5). Besides the spinal cord there was no ...

First report of oligodendroglioma in a sheep : clinical communication

“…The main differential diagnosis that needs to be considered, particularly in a tumour with intraventricular growth is the central neurocytoma, but this rare tumour has so far only been identified in humans. This tumour of neuroectodermal origin has been reported in a French bull dog, a cat, and a Japanese black heifer 1,5,9 . It seems that clinical signs are mostly due to the space-occupying effect of the tumour 3 .…”

Oligoastrocytoma of the Brain in a Hooded Crane (Grus monacha)

“…6 Although some tumor cells have expressed these markers, their expression is not specific for oligodendrogliomas, and, thus, it appears that there are no specific markers for the detection of neoplastic oligodendrocytes. 12 In the sections examined for MBP, the myelin sheathes were well detected, but, the cell bodies of normal oligodendrocytes, which were less frequently encountered, showed faint positive immunoreactivity for MBP in a portion of cells that morphologically resembled oligodendrocytes. Recently, it was reported that some brain tumors, including astrocytoma, ependymoma, and central neurocytoma, can occasionally exhibit a honeycomb-like appearance.…”

Diffuse Leptomeningeal Oligodendrogliomatosis in a Cow

“…Interestingly, 2 of 3 previously reported oligodendrogliomas in cattle occurred in young adult cows and featured a similarly prominent leptomeningeal infiltration without clear primary mass, similar to the case presented here. 7,18 Altogether, these reports may suggest that bovine oligodendroglial tumors have a strong preference to develop and grow contiguously in the subarachnoid space, which might be associated with specific yet unknown mutations or neuroectodermal progenitor cell heterotopies. 11…”

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