Intra-abdominal leiomyosarcoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo): Histopathological and immunohistochemical characterization

Abstract

A 5 years old female ferret with an abdominal palpable mass confirmed at echo-graphic examination died during an explorative laparotomy. A single lymph-node-like nodule was found adjacent to the intestinal loops. The round mass well circumscribed, solid and white, histologically, at low magnification, appeared encapsulated and built up by a population of atypical spindle cells arranged in interwoven fascicles. The cells had high anisocytosis degree, moderate mitotic activity and prominent nucleoli. A central area of necrosis was present. To characterise the tumour immunohistochemically cytokeratin, vimentin, S-100, melan-A, vWF, desmin, actin and α-actin were applied. Neoplastic cells resulted positive to vimentin, actin and α-actin. Based on the histological and immunohistological pattern a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma was made.