title: Hepatocellular carcinoma with metastasis to the spleen in a Holstein cow.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with metastasis to the spleen in a Holstein cow was studied by histopathologic and immunohistochemical methods. The tumor was characterized by a pseudoglandular (acinar) pattern with an associated fibrous stroma. Individual cells often had a "hepatoid" appearance but were interspersed with scattered cells exhibiting a clear, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive cytoplasm and small eccentric nuclei. This pattern was present in nodules found in both liver and spleen. Moreover, hepatoid tumor cells were positive for alpha-fetoprotein. Immunohistochemical studies suggest that myofibroblasts were responsible for the production of fibrous septa surrounding the pseudoglandular structures of bovine HCC. In summary, our histologic and immunohistochemical findings support a diagnosis of primary HCC with splenic metastasis. Furthermore, the associated stromal response appears to be of a myofibroblast origin. The primary etiology of bovine HCC and the significance of the intralesional, PAS-positive clear cells remain undetermined.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu City 702-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: O D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary*