title: Testicular yolk sac tumor and impaired spermatogenesis in a Holstein Friesian calf.
abstract: Yolk sac tumors are testicular germ-cell tumors of the non-seminoma type. In cattle, this neoplasm is very rare and to date has only been described three times. In human males, it usually occurs in infants and children. Immunohistochemistry provides solid criteria for diagnostics. Especially present pathognomonic Schiller-Duval bodies are helpful for identification. In this report, a 32-day-old Holstein Friesian calf presented with a highly enlarged right testis. Sonographic examination was performed and blood samples were taken to measure testosterone and estrogen levels. Furthermore, the testis was surgically removed and macroscopically, histologically, and immunohistochemically examined which lead to the diagnosis of testicular yolk sac tumor. The second testis was descended until the age of nine months and histology revealed impaired spermatogenesis. This report provides the first sonographic images of bovine testicular yolk sac tumor as well as the first information about hormone levels in calves with this neoplasm. It also shows the importance to combine anamnesis, histomorphological, and immunohistochemical findings in order to diagnose yolk sac tumors when pathognomonic structures are not present.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Anatomy .
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schindewolffs
authors.affiliation: b Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics .
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dierks
authors.affiliation: c Clinic for Cattle .
authors.forename: Maike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heppelmann
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Anatomy .
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gähle
authors.affiliation: d Clinic for Cattle, Endocrinology Laboratory , and.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piechotta
authors.affiliation: e Department of Pathology , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover , Hannover , Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beineke
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Anatomy .
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brehm
authors.affiliation: b Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics .
authors.forename: Ottmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Distl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Cattle; spermatogenesis; testis; yolk sac tumor