title: Tracheal carcinosarcoma (true malignant mixed tumour) in a Belgian Blue heifer.
abstract: This report describes a case of a carcinosarcoma or true malignant mixed tumour (salivary gland type) of the trachea in a Belgian Blue heifer. At post-mortem examination a nodular, well-circumscribed, firmly attached mass was found in the tracheal wall, severely compressing the tracheal lumen. Histologically the tumour was biphasic, with varying proportions of epithelial elements dispersed throughout a matrix showing varying degrees of myxo-chondroid and cartilaginous differentiation. The histological features of the tumour were consistent with a combination of an adenoid cystic carcinoma and a chondrosarcoma. Immunolabelling demonstrated smooth muscle actin in the cytoplasm of both the epithelial and mesenchymal components, thus fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for a mixed tumour. To our knowledge this is the first report of a mixed tumour of the trachea in a domestic animal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Heerden
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Everaert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vangeel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiers
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Brantegem
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ducatelle
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor