Cervical ganglioneuroblastoma in a new born Japanese black calf

Abstract

This case report describes a congenital ganglioneuroblastoma in a 38-day-old male Japanese Black calf. The cervical multinodular mass was present at birth and grew rapidly. The cut surface was pale gray-to-yellow and had a gelatinous appearance. Hemorrhagic cysts of various sizes were observed in the nodule. Histologically, the mass contained clusters of neuroblastic cells, ganglionic cells, and Schwann-like cells. Immunohistochemically, the ganglionic cells showed strong positivity for neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament, synaptophysin, and chromogranin A, whereas the Schwann-like cells strongly expressed S-100, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and vimentin. Ultrastructurally, neurosecretory granules resembling catecholamine were observed in the neuroblastic and Schwann-like cells. Based on the pathology, the diagnosis was congenital cervical nodular ganglioneuroblastoma.