Disseminated pheochromocytoma in a North American river otter (Lontra canadensis).
A 21-yr-old male North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) with a chronic history of degenerative osteoarthritis was evaluated for acute posterior paralysis. Because no definitive cause was identified and a poor prognosis was expected, the otter was euthanatized. A malignant neoplasm of adrenal gland origin with disseminated metastases to the central nervous system, lymph nodes, diaphragm, pancreas, spleen, and liver was diagnosed on postmortem examination. No clinical signs of disseminated neoplasia had been noted throughout the otter's history. The adrenal neoplasm was composed of nests of epithelial cells surrounded by a fine fibrovascular stroma. Neoplastic cells were immunohistochemically positive for chromogranin A, PGP9.5, metencephalin, and endorphin and negative for melan A and inhibin, confirming a diagnosis of a malignant pheochromocytoma. On the basis of the necropsy finding, metastasis of the pheochromocytoma might have contributed to the observed clinical signs.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, A226 Veterinary Medical Center, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. schlanse@cvm.msu.edu
Justin R
JR
Schlanser
Jon S
JS
Patterson
Matti
M
Kiupel
Christy
C
Hencken
James G
JG
Sikarskie
Tara M
TM
Harrison
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D019042:Muscle Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D010041:Otters; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000662:veterinary