Rhabdomyosarcoma of the pectoral muscles of a free-living European robin (Erithacus rubecula).
An adult free-living European robin (Erithacus rubecula) with a large, firm, subcutaneous mass on the pectoral muscle was examined. The bird was unable to fly and died spontaneously. Necropsy revealed a yellowish, bilobate mass almost completely replacing the pectoral muscles with extensive osteolysis of the keel bone. Histopathology revealed a poorly demarcated, highly cellular sarcomatous tumour with metastases to the lungs, pulmonary blood vessels and heart. Immunohistochemistry was negative for neuron-specific enolase, S-100 protein and the p-27 major capsid protein of avian leukosis viruses. The homogeneously positive immunolabelling for vimentin and scattered positivity for myoglobin and desmin suggested a diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. A retrospective examination of the records for 194 birds of the thrush family, including 64 robins submitted over a 20-year period, showed no diagnoses of neoplasia.
Sezione di Anatomia Patologica Veterinaria e Patologia Aviare, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy. giovanni.manarolla@unimi.it
G
G
Manarolla
E
E
Radaelli
G
G
Pisoni
G
G
Sironi
T
T
Rampin
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D020308:Songbirds