title: Multicentric epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma in an African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris).
abstract: A 2-year-old female African hedgehog was presented with a 5-month history of pruritus, and diffuse spine and hair loss. A dermatologic examination revealed erythema, excoriation, scales, and crusting affecting the face, flanks, forelimbs, hindlimbs, and dorsal and ventral abdomen. Fine-needle aspiration was performed and skin biopsies were taken from several lesions for cytologic and histologic evaluation. The aspirates yielded smears characterized by a monomorphic population of medium-sized to large lymphocytes with scant to moderate amounts of clear to moderately basophilic cytoplasm and distinct nucleoli along with a low number of cytoplasmic fragments. On histopathologic examination, there were dense dermal lymphoid infiltrates invading the dermis and a monomorphic population of round cells that had infiltrated the overlying epidermis. Epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma was diagnosed based on morphologic features. Additional immunochemical analysis using anti-CD3 and anti-CD79a antibodies revealed strong CD3 expression by the tumor cells, which confirmed epitheliotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This is the first description of a multicentric pattern of epitheliotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in an African hedgehog.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animal and Animal Resources Science, Joongbu University, Geumsan-gun, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hyo-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ul-Soo
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006364:Hedgehogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Atelerix albiventris; CD3; CD79a; T-lymphocytes; dermatosis; neoplasia